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JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF RWANDA AND KENYA

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF RWANDA AND KENYA AT THE CONCLUSION OF A STATE VISIT TO RWANDA FROM 18TH – 20TH NOVEMBER, 2008 BY H.E. MWAI KIBAKI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

At the invitation of H.E President Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya paid a three day State Visit to Rwanda from 18 – 20 November, 2008. H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki was accompanied by a high level delegation comprising of Ministers and senior officials.
During the visit, the two Heads of State with their delegations held very fruitful talks on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki and his delegation also visited Gatsibo District to meet farmers who had benefited from a donation of 120 dairy cows from the Kenya Government in 2004, and held discussions with members of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation.
At the bilateral level, the two Heads of State expressed satisfaction with the existing warm and fraternal relations between the two countries.
The two delegations exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment and determination to further deepen the existing co-operation between the two countries. The delegations also underscored the need to enhance harmonized strategies and joint programs to strengthen and further widen the historical ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two countries.
The two delegations reviewed ongoing cooperation in a wide range of areas including: Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Animal Resources Development, Public Service and Labour, Information and Communication Technology, Local Governance, Forestry and Wildlife, Tourism, Transport, Energy, Education, Science and Technology, Water and Irrigation, Health, Cooperative Development, Youth and Sports, Justice and Legal Affairs, Immigration and Emigration, Police, Defence and Foreign Affairs. The two delegations undertook to enhance bilateral and technical cooperation by supporting each other in the above areas through exchange programs, capacity building and skills development.
In this regard, H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki offered to provide several training opportunities to Rwandan nationals in Kenyan institutions either at subsidized rates or through partial funding. H.E. Paul Kagame expressed appreciation for Kenya’s support for Rwanda’s capacity building and skills development program. The two Heads of State directed respective Ministries of both countries to work out early implementation of the enhanced bilateral cooperation and technical support.
H.E. Paul Kagame offered land to the Government of Kenya for the construction of a chancery and trade centre. He further offered to share Rwanda’s experience in e-government, e-parliament, justice and legal reform, decentralisation, land reform, reconciliation and conflict resolution, development of military and police credit and savings schemes. H.E. Mwai Kibaki, expressed appreciation for the generous offer from his colleague.
At the regional level the two Heads of State acknowledged the importance of an integrated regional market, and expressed their support for fast tracking the East African Community (EAC) integration process by expediting negotiations for the establishment of an East African Common Market.
The two delegations underlined the importance of the Northern Corridor Transport System to the economic transformation of the region and agreed to accelerate the removal of the remaining Non-Tariff Barriers. The Kenya delegation also invited the Government of Rwanda to join the Ministerial Commission on the construction of a new standard gauge railway alongside the existing Kenya/Uganda Railway, with the intention of extending the new railway line to Kigali and beyond.
Recognizing the importance of peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region, and the indispensable significance of peace to sustainable development, the two leaders undertook to work within the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to help find a lasting solution to the crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
H.E. Paul Kagame expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Kenya in seeking resolution to regional conflicts through dialogue.
The Kenyan delegation expressed solidarity with Rwanda in confronting external elements that threaten the security and well being of the Rwandan people.
The two delegations deplored the recent arrest of the Director of State Protocol of the Government of Rwanda, Mrs. Rose Kabuye by German authorities while on official duty in that country, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Decision of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on the abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction. They called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Kabuye.
At the international level, the two Heads of State expressed their commitment to work together in fighting international terrorism. They also expressed commitment to continue regular consultations with a view to harmonizing their positions on various issues of concern in the international arena.
H.E President Paul Kagame, on behalf of the people of Rwanda acknowledged the support and solidarity of the Government and people of Kenya and thanked H.E President Mwai Kibaki for honouring the invitation to visit Rwanda.
H.E President Mwai Kibaki expressed appreciation to H.E. Paul Kagame, the people and the Government of Rwanda for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to his delegation during the visit. He invited H.E President Paul Kagame to pay a state visit to Kenya on mutually agreed dates.

KIGALI
20^TH NOVEMBER, 2008

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