Belgium, Sudan and US envoys present credentials

VILLAGE URUGWIRO - Three envoys accredited to Rwanda, yesterday, presented their credentials to President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. The ambassadors are from Belgium, Sudan and the United States of America (USA). First to present credentials was US Envoy to Rwanda, Donald W. Koran who replaces Stuart Symington who had been an ambassador for the last three years. Speaking to reporters shortly after presenting his letters of credence, he said that he will continue to cement the bilateral co-operation between Rwanda and USA. “I am so much excited to be back in Rwanda, I served here from 1997-2001 as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Kigali and I look forward to work with the government and the people of Rwanda to maintain the excellent relations existing between two countries,” he said. Koran stated that he will embark on strengthening cooperation between two countries in the areas of Health, agriculture and security, among other things. He added that he was impressed by the tremendous developments that have taken place in Kigali with in a short period of time. The new Belgian Envoy, Marc Pecsteen de Buyrswerve mentioned that he will promote trade and investment by bringing Belgian investors to Rwanda, among other duties. “This is my first time to be an ambassador and what has excited me is to become an ambassador in a country like Rwanda which has a long historical relationship with Belgium. I will continue building on the already existing bilateral cooperation,” he said. Before his posting to Rwanda, Buyrswerve served in various capacities, in different Belgian diplomatic missions, including China and the United Nations in New York. The Sudanese Ambassador, Nasreldin Ahmed Walli pledged to promote strong and constructive relationship between two countries. He has a permanent residence in Kigali. “During my term of office I will bring the Sudanese investors to Rwanda so as to boost the growth of business in this country,” he noted. He also said that, his country acknowledges and values the role played by Rwandan peacekeepers in maintaining peace and security in Sudan. Before being appointed ambassador to Rwanda, he was the director in charge of America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sudan. The Sudan embassy in Kigali is new. Its high commission in Kampala was accredited to Rwanda. Ends

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Belgium, Sudan and US envoys present credentials