PRESIDENT KAGAME TO ATTEND FRANCE-AFRICA SUMMIT IN NICE

President Kagame today departed Kigali for Nice, France where he will participate in the 25th France Africa Summit, following acceptance of an invitation extended by President Sarkozy during his visit to Kigali last February.

Around 40 African Heads of State have confirmed attendance at the two-day summit which will consist mainly of closed sessions focusing on governance, reinforcement of peace and security as well as climate change. This is President Kagame first visit to France in eight years, having last visited during the France-Afrique Summit held in Paris in 2002.

Taking place at the margins of the Heads of State Summit are ministerial meetings on commerce and the economy, and a business forum. The summit is being held against a background of a significant shift in France’s relationship with Africa and outcomes may signal the start of a different type of France-Africa dialogue.

Rwanda’s delegation at the Nice Summit include Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister of Foreign Affairs; John Rwangombwa, Minister of Finance; Emmanuel Hategeka, PS in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Robert Bayigamba, President of the Private Sector Federation.

Following the Summit in Nice, President Kagame is scheduled to address the World Summit for the Future of Haiti taking place at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. President Kagame has been invited share with participating dignitaries Rwanda’s post genocide experience, particularly the emergency reconstruction in the absence of proper state structures.

The World Summit for the Future of Haiti is a meeting of the international community called the President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández, which aims to ratify the commitment of the International Community, so that Haiti may be guarantee a sustained support for the implementation of the Re-founding Plan and, specifically, to ensure the effective execution of the Action Plan while creating permanent ties of solidarity between the international community and Haiti in its reconstruction.

The Summit is also an opportunity to provide an update of where Haiti is at present. Several Heads of State from the Latin America and Caribbean region and/or representatives of donor countries friendly to Haiti are expected to attend.

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