Remarks by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Sue van der on the Occasion of the Celebration of Rwandan Liberation Day, 4 July 2008, Pretoria

Your Excellency, Ambassador Munyakayanza
Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed a great honour to represent the Government of the Republic of South Africa on this occasion and on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, I wish to convey to you, Your Excellency, and the Government and the people of the Republic of Rwanda our congratulations on the celebration of your Liberation Day.

We gather here today a few days after the culmination of the 11th African Union (AU) Summit that was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The summit was organised under the theme, “Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation”. Our leaders congregated at this Summit to deliberate on the progress we have made as individual countries and as a continent towards the achievement of these specific goals, on water and sanitation, and to assess whether existing continental programmes are sufficient to meet these goals. The summit was successfully concluded with the acknowledgement that much more still needs to be done if Africa is to achieve its objectives in meeting these important basic goals.

Against this background, Liberation Day as much signifies Rwanda’s break from its tragic past, as it also represents the many successes that Rwanda has recorded towards the achievement of our continental goals. Among these is the Rwandan Government’s Vision 20/20, an economic programme that continues to inspire steady economic growth and the commitment of the government to promote gender equality. 

In addition, Rwanda has lead by example in promoting the principles of good governance by acceding to the principles of NEPAD’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). As we all know this peer review mechanism is a measure designed not as a punitive measure but rather as a corrective measure for governments - for their African peers to properly assess the strengths and challenges that confront each country with the view to offering solutions to the challenges, and learning from the successes

Rwanda has played a leading role in this by subscribing to the process and being one of the first countries to undergo the review. In so doing your country has contributed to the strengthening of the process.

This example of commitment and practical implementation of decisions taken at the continental level demonstrate the leadership role that your country is playing on the continent - a role that has inspired many on the African continent and indeed in the international community.

The bilateral diplomatic relationship between South Africa and Rwanda was established in February 1995.  In the following years, and after the devastating genocide in 1994, our two governments have worked together on post-conflict and reconstruction programmes of public and economic institutions of Rwanda.

South African companies have invested in Rwanda, but it is clear that there is still significant room for expansion of trade and economic relations. These are things which we will continue to work on together.

In 2001 South Africa and Rwanda signed the General Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation whichmade provision for the establishment of a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) which became the official forum for interaction between our two countries.

We are very pleased at the high level bilateral cooperation our two countries enjoy under the aegis of this Commission, in areas such as Safety and Security, Trade and Industry, Education, Health, Science and Technology, Defence, Public Service and Administration and Arts and Culture.

Through this forum we are able not only to promote and encourage accelerated and balanced economic growth and development between our countries, but also between the Southern and Eastern regions of our continent.

Since the first session of the Joint Commission in Pretoria in 2001, significant progress has been recorded by the various Working Groups, including the Institutional and Capacity Building projects in a wide range of areas, which are at an advanced stage.

In order to ensure that the ambitious programmes that we have established are realised, our two countries instituted the Mid-Term Review in Pretoria last year.  This review mechanism is an instrument for assessing progress, as well as providing a platform for both countries to commit themselves to implementing all outstanding decisions taken at the Joint Commission, the next of which will be held in South Africa later this year (2008). 

Our two countries should continue to support the efforts of our respective leaders in ensuring that Africa remains firmly on the global agenda. As we work towards the attainment of our joint vision of an African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united, and which contributes to a world that is just and equitable, we are presented with an opportunity to contribute towards a change in global thinking about our people and our continent. We have a lot indeed to share and contribute as well as many good stories to tell.

It is in this spirit that I have the honour to propose on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, a toast to the well-being of His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Rwanda, HE President Paul Kagame and the people of Rwanda.

Mugire Amahoro! (Kinyarwanda for Peace be upon you)