President Paul Kagame yesterday bid farewell to the outgoing Egyptian Ambassador, Ahmed Ramy, at an event held at the State House in Kiyovu. Ramy has been the Egyptian envoy to Rwanda for the last four years, and during his time, relations between the countries have grown tremendously, with joint permanent commission between the two countries revived. Speaking to The New Times after meeting President Kagame, Ramy said that it was a great privilege to be accorded an audience with the Head of State at such a busy time when campaigns for the August 9 Presidential elections are going on across the country. “It was in September last year that an official agreement was reached by the two countries, and from then on, ten agreements and MoUs were signed covering several areas of cooperation starting from Economic Development, Health, Education, Youth and Sport and Energy and many others,” he said. Ramy, also highlighted some of the events that have taken place between the two countries while he served as Ambassador. “President Kagame made an important visit to Egypt last year; this was a milestone state visit,” he said. “Trade relations between the two countries doubled in the past four years, but personally, I would like more Rwandan exports going to Egypt. I will be happier if the balance of trade between the two countries is equal”. Meanwhile, Ramy also pointed out that the disagreement between the countries that share the Nile River has not grown to the extent of becoming a general concern since countries still have an option of solving the wrangles through dialogue. Ramy said that the River Nile has existed for thousands of years linking all the riparian countries. “At some point, officials from the riparian countries may have different views on some aspects, but I assure you, the Nile will continue linking the riparian countries, not for the last thousands of years, but for the thousands of years to come.” He added that the outstanding issues will have to be solved through dialogue, mutual understanding and good will. Since 1999, countries that share the River Nile have been negotiating possible ways of signing an agreement that would enable equal usage of the Nile waters, but Egypt, and to a lesser extent, Sudan, have for long resisted attempts by other Nile basin countries to sign the agreement. The agreement, dubbed the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement, seeks the establishment of a permanent Nile River Basin Commission through which member countries will come together to manage and develop resources of the Nile. Ends
