{Once again, good afternoon. }
We gather a little late in the month but I am told that any time before midnight on January 31st is still “bonne année” time.
Please accept my best wishes for this year, for you and your families, and for the countries and organisations you represent.
I also want to thank you for the important part you play in pursuing and nurturing our relationship, as well as our partnerships in development, investment, and trade.
I understand that a good number of you travelled to our countryside during this holiday season – some of you on bicycles. We are happy that you were able to enjoy what Rwanda has to offer beyond Kigali.
Rwanda is your host country and we will continue to do what we can to make your stay with us both comfortable and productive.
As I told my fellow Rwandans when we welcomed the New Year, 2016 was a good year for us in many respects, and together we can take satisfaction in the results of our cooperation.
We are looking forward to a constructive and meaningful election later this year, marking an important period of consolidation for our country.
Rwandans have come to expect things to be done thoughtfully, openly, and in security, while strengthening our unity.
For us, this is an approach that we have pledged will be preserved. We appreciate you for standing with us, and for sharing your views along the way.
The progress that we all see in Rwanda is a result of our commitment to good politics: A politics that is responsible and forward-looking, and most importantly, centred on our hard-working people, in partnership with you.
But Rwandans also know that we can do even more, and better, to safeguard the gains made so far, and continue to improve our well-being.
This will remain a priority for our government, and we look forward to continued collaboration with you all towards these objectives.
As member of the international community, Rwanda cannot be unaffected by political changes and uncertainities that people everywhere are witnessing.
We will continue to listen to our citizens, build their capacities, strengthen our institutions, and work together with our partners, as we also relentlessly continue to raise our voice in relation to global governance issues that need to be addressed, that affect all of us, as we have learned in the course of time.
Frameworks such the Global Goals and the Paris Accord are a useful basis for continued collaboration.
We will all succeed if we work even more closely together, while adapting to changing circumstances, with each of us contributing our respective strengths.
On that note, let me propose a toast:
To all of you, and to peace and prosperity for all nations!
Once again, all the best to all of you for 2017.
Thank you
Leave a Reply