Kitty Llewellyn
25 February 2008
Kigali — Former British premier Tony Blair yesterday pledged to help Rwanda achieve her vision for the future.
He was speaking at Village Urugwiro on his first visit to the country since becoming an advisor to President Paul Kagame. "There is a tremendous vision to be realized and it would be great to help," Blair said. "Anything I can do to help the process of development would be an honour and privilege." Acknowledging that Rwanda now has the economic, social and political stability to move forward, Blair explained that "the question that remains is how".
He said: "The vision that has been set out by the Government is the right vision and it's very clear. The question is how do we build the capability to make that happen? The vision is one thing; making it happen is another."
"That's where we can work together," he added.
Blair spoke of the unique nature of the partnership he has with the Government of Rwanda and President Kagame for who he has "admiration and respect."
Having, in the ex-prime minister's words, "sat on the side that makes decisions," he is in a position to offer strategic advice on how to translate the vision into reality. As a former leader he is able to find ways of making sure the capability is there to move Rwanda forward, Blair explained.
Lauding Rwanda's achievements to date, particularly in the education sector, Blair said it was time to take them to the next stage.
He spoke of his "desire here to take what has already happened to a bigger, better, higher level."
He stressed in particular the importance of private sector development.
President Kagame thanked Blair who is also the international Middle East peace envoy, for taking time amidst his many other engagements to render support to Rwanda.
"Tony brings a lot of experience and capability and connections he has internationally," Kagame said.
Last month Blair, who was UK premier from 1997-2007, offered to serve as a voluntary advisor to the Government of Rwanda.
During his visit, Blair has recommended that a new government ministry in charge of Cabinet affairs be created.
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To have a vision is a common of the wise people. That is good for rwandans.
One former british premier said one time in the past that England has no friends but interests. If the vision fitts Blair and England interests they will help but how.
Rwanda has been destroyed in many occasions. In 1914 when Belgium tok over the country, in 1931 when the king of rwanda was removed from the because he did not want to be baptized, in 1959 when Belgium decided to work with hutus but not tutsis, in 1973 because of a military coup, in 1980 because of alleged attempt military coup, in 1990/1994 because the unsolved refugee issue, war and rwanda genocide, .... At every event thousands and thousands of people were forced to leave the country or killed, especially the intellectuals ; the country itself was destroyed.
I do not see the achievement of this vision without resolving the refugee problem. It is impossible that Rwanda will manage to kill or to put in prisons in Rwanda or elsewhere all its oppenents, or commom refuggees. As loong as there will be one Rwandan whose basic human rights are refused, it will the wast of time to thing about VISION 2020.
Blair must help Rwanda to understand and to resolve the problem of refugees, non only those who is living in DRC men all of them, before helping the to achieve the goels which will be destroyed sometimes in the future.
Refugees are not a treat to the rwandese regime. They are like you and I . the only difference is that we have everything , including our elf achievement , when they have nothing, neiether their own acknoweledge as human beings , neiether emotions. remember :" The president said , talking about the death of the former president habyariman, that he does not care because he (Habyarimana) has done nothing to get him home from exile.
We do not want the death of our presidents any more. King Kigeli in Exile, Kayibanda killed/ died in prison, Habyarimana killed in Kigali. President Paul kagame has the opporrtunity to stop this. His family and Rwandans diserve a better treatment.
Sincerely
Terram Pacis / Terre de Paix Brazzaville