GASABO - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosemary Museminali, has assured the entire 53 member states of the Commonwealth that Rwanda will be a trusted partner.

She said this yesterday while addressing members of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) at Hotel Novotel Umubano.

This follows the country’s bid to join the organisation since February 1996 when it inquired about membership.

Museminali hastened to explain that Rwanda’s bid is motivated by a number of reasons which are expected to be in line with most of the recommended criteria.

"These have been reviewed over time and were approved last year in Kampala, Uganda,” Museminali explained.

Some of the criteria Rwanda has fulfilled include respect for Commonwealth fundamental values and human rights and active contribution to the Commonwealth.

She also added that Rwanda’s civil society has been keenly following developments on the country’s application and possible accession to this organisation.

Museminali explained that Rwanda has been invited to several meetings by the Commonwealth where some Rwandans have also benefited. 

She cited the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala as an example.

"A delegation from the Secretariat has recently visited Rwanda to assess the country’s readiness to join the organisation. We appreciate these developments since our application to join the community of nations, but as much as we hope to gain from the Commonwealth, we also have something to contribute,” Museminali underscored.

"The country has traveled a challenging journey over 14 years and scored many achievements causing deep admiration—thereby expressing solidarity with those who have brought durable peace and stability in Rwanda,” Victoria te Velde, the Head of the CPSU said.

She further said that CPSU looks forward to continuing its work in Rwanda, anticipating a much fruitful partnership created between the Commonwealth organisation and the Rwandan civil society.

The meeting, that brought together members of the CPSU, other commonwealth stakeholders and different participants, was to equally share Rwandan experiences in accession of membership and anticipated benefits. It is the first public debate in an applicant country ahead of membership.

Experts believe that this demonstrates that Rwanda takes civil society consultation seriously and therefore moves one step closer to its anticipated membership in November 2009. 

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