The Rwandan Embassy in Brussels, Belgium and the European Parliament, on Wednesday, launched the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Speaking at the function, Louis Michel, who represented the European Parliament, highlighted Rwanda’s remarkable economic and social recovery over the past 20 years and commended the resilience of Rwandans. “The progress made in the last 20 years with a 7.8 per cent GDP growth in 2013 is extra-ordinary,” Michel said. Ibuka representative Emile Kagambage pointed out the need to fight Genocide denial. Ibuka is the umbrella of Genocide survivors associations. Former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the UN, Karel Kovanda, explained how the UN failed to respond adequately when the first signs of the Genocide emerged. Amb. Masozera stressed the principles of Kwibuka20 – “Remember, Unite, Renew” initiative, which aims to recognise the resilience of Rwandans and convey a positive vision for the future. “We are counting on everyone’s participation in the different events to be held in the country,” he said. The event was attended by over 150 people, including Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission, national diplomats, members of the press corps, NGOs, Belgian officials, academics and members of the Rwandese Diaspora in Belgium.
