The outgoing US Ambassador to Rwanda, Donald Koran, yesterday bade President Paul Kagame farewell following the end of his three-year tour of duty.

They discussed relations between both countries.

Speaking after the meeting at Village Urugwiro, Koran said he was happy to have accomplished his tour of duty and that Rwanda and US continue to enjoy cordial relations.

"I am finishing up my three year working tour here in Rwanda, and during my farewell call to the President, we discussed areas where the two countries have worked together, notably peacekeeping, health and economic development,” said Koran, adding that during his tenure, Rwanda underwent drastic changes in various sectors.

"Rwanda has made a great deal of progress across the board– in health education, economic development, and we, in the United States, are happy that we have been able to assist Rwanda in some of those areas through our foreign policy programmes.”

According to Koran, the US government has helped make dramatic improvement in the health sector, particularly with regards to HIV/Aids where prevalence levels have reduced.

"We have assisted Rwanda in Human Resources for Health Initiative which is designed to train Rwandan medical specialists in a number of fields,” he said.

The US assistance in the health sector is channeled through the President’s Emergency Plan For Aids Relief (Pepfar) and the Presidential Malaria Initiative.

"We are expanding our programmes in education through Usaid Peace Corps and public diplomacy section and we have worked very closely with Rwanda on peacekeeping issues.

edwin.musoni@newtimes.co.rw