Commonwealth: Secretary-General visits newest member Rwanda

Sharma to hold talks with President Kagame in Kigali

Photo: Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma arrived in Rwanda today for his maiden official visit to the Commonwealth’s newest member.

Soon after touching down in Kigali he laid a wreath at the genocide memorial built in remembrance of nearly a million ethnic Tutsis and allied moderate Hutus killed during the 1994 genocide.

During his stay, from 20-22 January 2010, he will hold discussions with President Paul Kagame, and call on Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo. He is also scheduled to address a joint sitting of parliament.

In Kigali, Mr Sharma is expected to meet leaders of the Human Rights Commission, the National Council of Women, the National Youth Association, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the Electoral Commission.

Commonwealth Heads of Government considered the application of Rwanda for membership of the Commonwealth at their biennial meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009, in accordance with the criteria and procedures agreed at their last meeting in 2007. They warmly welcomed Rwanda into the Commonwealth family as its 54th member.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Sharma said:

“In visiting our newest member, I am reminded that over six decades this association has brought together countries new and old, large and small, rich and poor. Our highest goals are our values and principles. Our aspirations, and many of our challenges, are the same. Our organisation and its members will always be journeying together on the often rugged and winding paths of democracy, development and diversity. My discussions with President Kagame will revolve around those themes, and the ways in which the Commonwealth can serve the people of Rwanda and pursue our shared goals.”

On 20 January, en route to Rwanda, Mr Sharma stopped-over in Uganda, where he held talks in Kampala with Uganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa.

The Secretary-General briefed Mr Kutesa on outcomes of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and how the Commonwealth Secretariat is to implement the mandates set by leaders.

Source.