KIGALI - The Rwandan parliament has been named as one of the four African countries chosen by the British Government to observe their parliamentary elections slated for next month,The New Times reports.

The announcement was made after talks that were held between Speaker of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana and the British Ambassador to Rwanda, Nicholas Cannon on Friday.

According Augustin Habimana, the Director General of Information and Outreach in the Parliament, Rwanda was chosen alongside Kenya, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

Habimana says that the development is a followup of the current bi-lateral relations between both countries, where the United Kingdom has previously been invited to observe the elections in Rwanda.

"The fact that Rwanda is among the countries chosen from Africa to observe the UK elections is a vote of confindence. What the lawmakers who will be chosen to go for this exercise learn will definitely be instrumental as we prepare for elections in the near future,” he said

In a related development, Speaker Mukantabana also received Mirgayas M.Shirinskiy, the Ambassador of Russia to Rwanda who commended Rwanda on the fast progress made since 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

He pointed out the progress made in the areas of unity and reconcilation, economy and regional intergration.

In a statement issued by parliament, Mukantabana, highlighted to Ambassador Shirinskiy, the special relationship between the Ministries of Education and Defence of both countries where the Russian Ministry of education has sent lecturers to various universities of Rwanda.

She also pointed out the desire by the Rwandan government to increase the number of scholarships given to local students wishing to pursue further education in Russia.

Ambassador Shirinskiy also invited the Rwandan parliament in a meeting that will bring together Russia and African countries in June this year, a meeting that Mukantabana promised Rwanda would attend.

Ends