KIGALI - Defence Minister, Gen. James Kabarebe, yesterday received in his office Khaled Abdel Rahman, the new Egyptian Ambassador, and the two discussed issues related to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Shortly after the meeting, Rahman told The New Times that Rwanda-Egypt cooperation will "see important steps in the near future,” and shed some more light on their discussions.

"We discussed cooperation in peacekeeping as Egypt and Rwanda are contributors of troops to the UN Mission in Darfur, and other areas, and also the cooperation concerning seminars and activities organized by the Egyptian peacekeeping centre in Cairo,” said the envoy.

"It was generally a very good meeting, and we spoke about very various important issues and the importance of enhancing the bilateral relations in the economic domain”.

Army and Defence Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara, who attended the meeting, told reporters that Rwanda has a vital cooperation framework with Egypt, especially in training peacekeepers and that RDF troops go to Egypt, annually, for training.

He revealed that, during the meeting, Rahman delivered an invitation from his government to Kabarebe, to visit Egypt in January.

Rutaremara also noted that Egypt has requested for a defence attaché to be brought to the Kigali embassy, which was granted.

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