THE Rwandan and Burundian senates have signed a cooperation agreement that would enable them exchange expertise in fostering parliamentary development activities. The agreement was signed on Thursday by Senate president Dr Vincent Biruta and his Burundian counterpart Gervais Rufyikiri at the Senate offices in Kacyiru. The cooperation programme shall mainly comprise of training, working visits and sharing of experience in various aspects, Biruta said. He added that the agreement was based on the coordinal relations, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries and their respective senates. Rufyikiri remarked that since the two senates have a common mission of representing the people, the cooperation would help in achieving their ultimate goals. With the agreement, we shall have to share experiences and mitigate the challenges confronting the two senates, he said. According to the agreement, both senates would be committed to working together for the development of their relations, solidarity and cooperation through constructive dialogue on all matters falling under their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Rufyikiri clarified his earlier statements on the mode of governance in his country, during which he had been quoted as saying that their senate was due to conduct a survey on how to switch from ethnic representation in state organs. He clarified that saying that currently Burundians were still comfortable with that political formula although they could decide to change it in future.Ends
