French envoy vows to take relations to another level

The new French envoy Michel Flesch

The new French Ambassador to Rwanda Michel Flesch has said that he is in Rwanda to take the relations between the two countries to another level.

He made the remarks shortly after presenting his credentials to President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro village.

The French embassy has been without an ambassador for months now after Paris recalled Laurent Contini and Rwanda refusing to approve Hellen Le Gal as the new envoy.

The incident led to media speculations that the relations between the countries were on the rocks. It was said that Legal was so close ally of the Foreign Affairs Minister Allain Juppe who is considered by Rwanda as a genocide apologist.

Contini had been appointed French envoy to Kigali following the renewal of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and France in 2009.

Meanwhile President Kagame also received credentials of four new Ambassadors accredited to Rwanda.

The new other envoys include the Ambassador of Thailand, and high commissioners of Canada and Sri-Lanka.

The diplomats said that their objective is to enhance relations between their respective countries and Rwanda.

Rwanda cemented its relations with SRI LANKA. Thambirajah Raventeenhirah The new high commissioner of the Asian Country to Rwanda who presented his letter of accreditation to President Kagame will be based in Nairobi.

He said Sri Lanka and Rwanda want to build strong partnership basing on forthcoming mutual visits.

Prior to his appointment as high commissioner, Thambirajah Raventeenhirah served as the director General of the African Division in the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.