Rwanda

UNDP RR and RC visits Minister of Foreign Affairs

Kigali, 11 October 2005: The New UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré today paid a visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and presented his letter of accreditation to the Rwandan Chief of diplomacy, Hon. Dr. Charles Murigande.

On this first contact with the country’s authorities, Mr. Soumaré was accompanied by the UNDP Country Programme Director and Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Alain Noudéhou who has been the interim representative of UNDP for the last 5 months. The new UNDP Rwanda chief thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the warm welcome he has had upon his arrival in Rwanda and promised to continue the good relationship that has characterized the cooperation between the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations System in the country and UNDP in particular. Mr. Soumaré briefed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on the ongoing UN Reform that will make the UN a more efficient organization.

In a welcome statement, Dr. Murigande thanked the new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for his nomination at the head of the UN in Rwanda and briefed him on the recent history of this country, mainly for the last 11 years of reconstruction and development of a nation which was almost annihilated in 1994. He praised the role played by the UN agencies in the country and in particular the role played by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in mobilizing resources for the country’s reconstruction, resources than have been channeled through the UNDP. He insisted on the role played by all development partners in these crucial times that Rwanda has gone through and the role of the UN System. “We assure you of our collaboration and support that you will need in the accomplishment of your responsibilities”, said Dr. Charles Murigande, adding that the government of Rwanda is always ready to work with the United Nations System and other partners.

Mr. Soumaré emphasized the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation can play in the mobilization of resources as the Ministry is like the starting point for all development cooperation. In this, he promised UN and UNDP collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government departments. Mr Soumaré was delighted by the way Rwanda has a clear development vision and the political will that promote change. “The UN will accompany the government of Rwanda in its efforts to attain this vision”, he told journalists at the end of the meeting.

Mr. Soumaré is a national of Mali and before his assignment to Rwanda; he was Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Benin.