Ankara, 25 June 2019 - Dr Richard Sezibera, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, undertook his maiden working visit to Turkey from 23-25 June 2019. The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and deepen the scope of politico, economic and social cooperation between Rwanda and Turkey.

Foreign Minister Sezibera held bilateral dialogue with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on 24 June 2019. During the meetings, the two Ministers signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Diplomatic Training and the Agreement Concerning Visa Waiver for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports. The two Ministers also held a joint press conference.

Minister Sezibera met several other high officials of Turkey including the Turkish Minister of culture and tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, with whom he signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism. He also met with the Chairman of the Rwanda-Turkey Parliamentary Frienshship Group, Hon. Macahit Durmusoglu, as well as the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, the Grand National Assembly, Prof.Dr. Mustafa $entop. The thrust of the meetings was to advance parliamentary diplomacy, building on the work already done.

During this working visit, Minister Sezibera addressed two seminars including one on business where Minister Sezibera met with Turkish business people in Ankara and encouraged them to visit Rwanda and explore its trade and investment opportunities. He addressed another seminar called Rwanda Renaissance Seminar, a collaborative effort between the Embassy of Rwanda to Turkey and the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE).

While in Turkey, Minister Sezibera briefed the African Ambassadors accredited to Turkey on recent developments in the continent and met with members of the Rwandan community in Turkey.

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