GASABO - Top officials from the Rwandan and German governments, yesterday, started bi-lateral dialogue on development cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Kimihurura.

In his opening remarks, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Amb. Eugene Munyakayanza predicted that the two-day talks will be fruitful.

"We wish to have very fruitful and truthful discussions during this two-day meeting,” Munyakayanza said while praising what he said was an existing excellent Rwanda-Germany relationship built on mutual respect in all aspects.

"I wish to reiterate Rwanda’s commitment to further strengthen these relations to greater heights to the benefit of our people.”

"Rwanda especially appreciates partners who are willing to take into consideration her own development priorities,” said Munyakayanza.

At the Minaffet meeting, the new German envoy, Ambassador Elmar Timpe, stressed the meeting’s particular importance.

"Our meeting today is of particular importance because it gives a clear and strong signal from both sides that the unfortunate strains in our relations belong to the past. We both are determined to continue our efforts of bringing this country forward,” said Timpe.

Last year, Rwanda expelled the then German Ambassador, Christian Clages, following the controversial arrest in Germany of the Director of State Protocol Rose Kabuye.

This was followed by the recalling of Rwanda’s envoy in Bonn.
The two countries subsequently reappointed envoys to their capitals.

Health, education (special technical education), governance and export promotion are likely to be top issues under discussion.

"Our long term common aim is to enable Rwanda to do without aid and the day to celebrate this great event does not need to be far away. But in the meantime, dedication, hard work and being focused is still the motto of the day,” said Timpe.

Currently, Germany’s cooperation is largely in the form of financial and technical cooperation, but the country also contributes to EU, WB, AfDB, which are Rwanda’s multilateral donors.

In the last (2007) cooperation framework, Germany committed Euro 24.5 million to development assistance for Rwanda.

Ends