As the nation commemorates the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda have been urged to continue comforting and encouraging survivors.

During the commemoration event in The Hague, Netherlands, last Friday, Amb. Jean Pierre Karabaranga thanked more than 250 people who attended for standing side by side with the survivors.

Amb. Karabaranga added: I wish also to comfort and encourage you all and the survivors in particular during this painful three months period of remembrance that we started. I wish you to stay strong and brave as you did for the last 22 years.”

Guests at the event included officials of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic community, friends of Rwanda, and Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands.

All guests joined in a Walk to Remember held prior to the official commemoration.

Amb Karabaranga called on the international community to take concrete measures to fight the genocide ideology and the genocide denial that has been going on for 21 years in some parts of this world.”

In China, nearly 300 people attended the commemoration ceremony held there on Thursday.

These included Chinese government officials, foreign diplomats in China, representatives of Chinese companies, scholars, Rwandans in China and friends of Rwanda.

The Ambassador of Rwanda to China, Lt Gen. Charles Kayonga thanked all guests for honouring the Embassy’s invitation and for their continued support.

Amb. Kayonga said: "With the ideology of unity and reconciliation in practice today in Rwanda, we are sure to defeat the ideology of genocide which is the genesis of genocide and, genocide will never happen again in Rwanda.”

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