On October 1, 2009 Hon. Rosemary Museminali, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation gave audience to Mr. Nick Baird, the Director General for Europe and Globalization at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Baird commended the excellent partnership existing between UK and Rwanda which is rewarding for the UK government and mutually benefit for the two countries. He opined that Rwanda entering the Commonwealth of Nations will open a new phase in bilateral relations with UK.

The Rwandan Foreign Minister informed that the Secretary General wrote to the President of the Republic of Rwanda asking him to submit the request to join the Commonwealth organization. She further informed that the Rwandan Parliament has endorsed the Rwandan bid to enter the organization.

Mr. Baird and Hon. Museminali also discussed regional issues, the security situation in Sudan, the political ambiance in Kenya as well as the progress of the economic integration of the East African Community.

Minister Museminali also informed Mr. Baird of the issues discussed at the 64^th annual UN General Assembly, mainly climate change issues, gender and the principle of the responsibility to protect around which Rwanda is desirous to mobilize regional actors. She also emphasized on the fact that the future of the bilateral partnership with UK would certainly be directed by the climate change challenges and the development of agriculture and energy in Rwanda.

Mr. Nick Baird was accompanied by the UK Ambassador to Rwanda, HE. Nicholas Cannon.