The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, yesterday met the Burundian Foreign Minister, Mr Therence Sinunguruza, in Dublin and discussed the murder of the Papal Nuncio to Burundi, Archbishop Michael Courtney.
The Burundian government has been carrying out an investigation into the murder of the Irish archbishop on December 29th last and Mr Cowen was told yesterday that the Burundian authorities had now arrested a 20-year-old man.
Archbishop Courtney was murdered when his car was ambushed in Minago, south of the capital Bujumbura as he was returning from a funeral.
Mr Sinunguruza announced the Burundian government's decision to present a posthumous award to Archbishop Courtney. He also met members of the late archbishop's family yesterday.
Speaking after his meeting with the Burundian foreign minister, Mr Cowen said: "The murder of Archbishop Michael Courtney was a truly tragic event for the people of Burundi, for his family, for the Holy See and for all his friends and admirers, both here in Ireland and around the world. He was a true disciple of peace.
"His loss continues to be deeply felt, not just by his family, the people of Burundi and the Holy See but by all who had the honour of knowing and working with him during his distinguished career," he said.
Mr Cowen also announced the establishment of the Courtney Fellowship which will sponsor a Burundian student to pursue a master's course in governance or peace studies over one year for the next five years. The fellowship will be funded under Development Co-operation Ireland's Fellowship Training Programme.