Kagame receives Swedish delegation

URUGWIRO VILLAGE - President Paul Kagame yesterday received a delegation from Sweden that included Members of Parliament and officials from the United Nations Association of Sweden at Urugwiro Village, The group, which is in the country on a 3-day working visit to assess the country’s development, held discussions with the President on a number of issues, including economic growth, the upcoming presidential elections, human rights and relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In an interview, Aleksander Gabelic from the UN Association of Sweden, noted that the discussions with the President gave them an insight into Rwanda’s development path since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “We talked about the aspect of the Genocide and reconciliation. We also raised questions that are important for the Swedish-international perspective; the values of the UN, democracy and human rights,” Gabelic said. According to Gabelic, the talks which were held in ‘a good atmosphere’, also touched on the upcoming elections as well as freedom of the press and social well-being. “They basically wanted to have an insight on how we have managed to get where we are today in terms of economic development in a short period. The talks also touched on our relations with DRC and whether the MONUC mandate should be extended,” said Finance Minister, John Rwangombwa. During their visit, the group will assess the impact of One UN in terms of development and keeping regional stability as well the contribution of Sweden to the country’s development. They are scheduled to visit the One UN offices, Forum for Rwanda Women Parliamentarians, National Service for Gacaca Courts and Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission among others. Ends