Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Presidential Election in Rwanda

August 28, 2003

1. Japan considers the presidential election in Rwanda on August 25, first since the 1994 genocide, and the election of Mr. Paul Kagame as a new President mark an important step forward in advancement of democracy and re-building of the nation in Rwanda.
   
   
2. Rwanda's democratization and its stability and prosperity are important not only for the Great Lakes Region but also for the African continent as a whole. Japan expects that the Government of Rwanda, all the political parties and the Rwandan people will continue their efforts for the country's democratization, reconciliation and nation-rebuilding in a peaceful and fair manner.
   
   
3. Japan intends to maintain friendly relations with Rwanda, while closely observing progress in democratization in that country. For instance, at this election, Japan sent two officers of its embassy in Kenya as monitors of the presidential election.

Related Information (Japan-Rwanda Relations)