Commissioner calls for cut in military spending

Nielsen praised Rwanda’s economic reform efforts but said the continuing war in DRC was worrying and that the EU hoped Rwandan would “put all efforts into pursuing peace.” He also called on Rwanda to reduce military expenditure - which now accounted for one-third of government spending, according to a BBC report on Thursday. Additional EU money would be available to Rwanda “in the light of the country’s general situation and needs,” Nielsen said. Europe was ready to assist Rwanda, both technically and financially, to put in place the ‘gacaca’ system of local courts expected to speed up the judicial process for some130,000 people in prison, most of them on genocide charges, Nielsen said.