British MPs to lobby for Rwanda’s commonwealth bid
BY JAMES KARUHANGA
The New Times-Kigali
August 1, 2009
KIGALI - British parliamentarians who are touring the country have expressed satisfaction with Rwanda’s readiness to join the Commonwealth and vowed to back the move by being Kigali’s “unofficial ambassadors.”
Rwanda’s bid to join the 53 state -member grouping will be discussed during this year’s Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago.
Labour MP Bruce George who headed the seven-man delegation that has been assessing Rwanda’s readiness to join the grouping gave the country a clean bill of health.
“Members in my delegation are very supportive, very enthusiastic and we will do all we can to assist (Rwanda to join commonwealth),” said MP Bruce George who headed the delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
He said that the group would be Rwanda’s ‘unofficial ambassadors’ in the British House of Commons to regularly discuss Rwanda’s bid.
“I am so excited about what we have seen that when we go back, we are establishing an unofficial group in the House of Commons to discuss, regularly, the issues of Rwanda.”
The British lawmakers also emphasized during a press conference at the parliamentary buildings that Rwanda had a lot to take to the organisation.
“I think it (Rwanda) should join but it will not join simply to receive. It will join to give, give experience, which I think would be very useful to some other countries in the commonwealth,” George said.
“It is a proud country, much experienced, done so much in a short space of time and more and more people should know more about it. And I think being inside the Commonwealth will allow your country to access more information and access more support.”
On the issue of some criticism that has been labeled against the country following its bid, Baroness D’Souza, a member of the delegation noted that the skeptics fail to view Rwanda within the larger context.
“There is no question that there are some areas where we have had concerns and we have expressed these concerns to the government very frankly,” said D’Souza.
“We are reassured by the answers that we received that the government is also aware of the areas where there is a need for improvement.”
Related Materials:
KIGALI - British parliamentarians who are touring the country have expressed satisfaction with Rwanda’s readiness to join the Commonwealth and vowed to back the move by being Kigali’s “unofficial ambassadors.”
Rwanda’s bid to join the 53 state -member grouping will be discussed during this year’s Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago.
Labour MP Bruce George who headed the seven-man delegation that has been assessing Rwanda’s readiness to join the grouping gave the country a clean bill of health.
“Members in my delegation are very supportive, very enthusiastic and we will do all we can to assist (Rwanda to join commonwealth),” said MP Bruce George who headed the delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
He said that the group would be Rwanda’s ‘unofficial ambassadors’ in the British House of Commons to regularly discuss Rwanda’s bid.
“I am so excited about what we have seen that when we go back, we are establishing an unofficial group in the House of Commons to discuss, regularly, the issues of Rwanda.”
The British lawmakers also emphasized during a press conference at the parliamentary buildings that Rwanda had a lot to take to the organisation.
“I think it (Rwanda) should join but it will not join simply to receive. It will join to give, give experience, which I think would be very useful to some other countries in the commonwealth,” George said.
“It is a proud country, much experienced, done so much in a short space of time and more and more people should know more about it. And I think being inside the Commonwealth will allow your country to access more information and access more support.”
On the issue of some criticism that has been labeled against the country following its bid, Baroness D’Souza, a member of the delegation noted that the skeptics fail to view Rwanda within the larger context.
“There is no question that there are some areas where we have had concerns and we have expressed these concerns to the government very frankly,” said D’Souza.
“We are reassured by the answers that we received that the government is also aware of the areas where there is a need for improvement.”
Related Materials:
Report on Rwanda's Application for Membership of the Commonwealth
Rwanda's Commonwealth hopes dented by human rights criticism
Rwanda defends rights record over Commonwealth bid
Rwanda's Commonwealth hopes dented by human rights criticism
Rwanda defends rights record over Commonwealth bid
posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 7:00 AM
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