Kigali, Rwanda, 8 May 2018 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, arrived in Rwanda today.
In Kigali, the President addressed the Transform Africa Summit, which is being held under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Single Digital Market.” In his remarks, he said the Summit was “not just about Africa. Because, when Africa transforms – so does our whole world.”
He added, “The single digital market may now seem like a dream. And it will not be easy to realise. There is hard work ahead.
.. But make no mistake: Africa can do it. And it will do it. This is a continent on the up. It will continue to rise. We can either watch it from the side lines. Or we can work in partnership. And rise together.”
In a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Chair of the African Union, President Lajčák congratulated President Kagame on his country’s impressive achievements, including its hosting of the Transform Africa Summit. They agreed to hold regular coordination meetings between the President of the General Assembly and the Chair of the African Union. They also discussed the strong partnership between Rwanda and the United Nations, sustaining peace and conflict prevention, migration, and financing for development.
While in Kigali, President Lajčák visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he laid a wreath and observed a moment of silence. He noted that he had commemorated the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda last month in the General Assembly Hall. However it was one thing to take part in a meeting in New York and quite another to come to the actual place where this horrible human tragedy had happened.
He said, “To say that my visit to the Kigali Genocide Center has been moving would be an understatement. This is a powerful place with a powerful message.”
On behalf of the United Nations General Assembly, the President contributed US$10,000 to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to support its ongoing efforts to provide a dignified resting place for the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, to support its survivors, to record and preserve evidence, and to prevent future genocides in the world through education and outreach. He expressed hope that this contribution would assist the Memorial in continuing its invaluable efforts to build and sustain peace in Rwanda and around the world.
The President is scheduled to arrive back in New York on 9 May.
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For media inquiries, please contact Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, 1-212-963-7238, 1-347-556-3433, varmab@un.org.
