{{On 13 February 2014, Berlin marked the launch of the 20th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Germany’s capital city, Berlin. }}
The event that officially opened the 20th commemorative year of the Genocide was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in cooperation with the German Africa Foundation (DAS e.V.).
Taking place in the premises of the Federal Parliament, the event was attended by more than 200 guests.
Among them were dignitaries from German politics, including members of the federal Parliament, representatives of the federal and local government as well as members of the diplomatic corps.
Further, members of the Rwandan community, friends of Rwanda and the German-Jewish community participated actively in the function.
The event, moderated by ZDF (German public broadcaster)’s Andreas Huppert, was opened with the short film “Remember, unite, renew”. A musical performance throughout the evening by three professional singers of the rabbinical school, Abraham Geiger College, framed the event grandly.
The Rwandan Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka, started her welcoming remarks by calling for a minute of silence for the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
She then explained the word “Kwibuka”, recalling the importance to remember by honouring the victims and the reconciliation of Rwandans over the past 20 years. The Rwandan envoy also stressed that the Genocide which occurred in Rwanda and took more than 1 Mio innocent lives ought not to be solely considered a Rwandan problem.
She stressed the lessons learned from the tragedy were of international impact. The prevention of genocides was an international duty as was the need to invest into its prevention, she said.
“The term “Never again” is well known in Germany. And we Rwandans also promote a very strong culture of commemoration. Genocides shall never occur again. Not in Rwanda, nor elsewhere.
And when we undertake efforts to build a better future for new generations, we do this by honouring the memory of friends and relatives who left us too soon. We are building a Rwanda in which all citizens enjoy equal rights. However, we also take on international responsibility.”
The Ambassador informed the audience about Rwanda’s contributions to UN-mandated peace-keeping missions and the country’s promotion of the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P), explaining that Rwanda took lessons from its recent past.
Recalling the German experience, she called upon a united front against genocide deniers everywhere.
The guest of honour, Vice president of the Federal Parliament Mrs Ulla Schmidt, commended Rwandans for not shying away from confronting their dark past. She encouraged the flame of remembrance to shine always and to be spread to the entire world.
Mrs Schmidt referred to the progress Rwanda has made over the past twenty years, while at the same time facing the challenge of reconciling and re-building a broken nation.
“Rwanda has achieved a lot, such as having the world’s highest percentage (65%) of female members in Parliament. We do not need many words to acknowledge your progress.
And you make an impressive contribution to peace and ownership of African solutions by engaging in peace-keeping missions across the continent, such as in Mali or the Central African Republic.”
The deputy speaker explained that coming to terms with the genocide and its aftermath was not a task for a Rwandans alone.
She referred to Germany’s first and ongoing trial of a Rwandan genocide suspect, stating that this shows that Rwandans are not alone and that impunity was not an option wherever perpetrators of genocide may be.
The event’s program also consisted of the testimony of a genocide survivor and her German husband. Jacqueline and Wolfgang Blam recalled and shared their memories of the tragic events in 1994.
When asked about her family, Jacqueline Blam said that this was a difficult question to answer because the majority of her close and extended family was killed during the genocide.
She called upon everyone to live in peace with their neighbours and asked politicians to first and foremost serve and protect those citizens whom they are responsible for.
In her final remarks Ambassador Nkulikiyinka said that, today, Rwandans understand themselves as one nation. What unites Rwandans was stronger and more diverse than what could possibly divide them, the Rwandan envoy stressed.
She also thanked all guests for expressing their solidarity with Rwandans by joining in the commemoration and for spreading hope.
The event was concluded with the lightening of the remembrance flame, Urumuli rutazima, which was carried by two youths. The flame will be travelling throughout Germany until the end of March.
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