Presidents Kagame, Museveni agree to improve relations

Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda agreed on Thursday to investigate and resolve all outstanding complaints against each other, according to a joint communique issued at the end of their summit in London. Mediated by Britain through the secretary of state for international development, Clare Short, the summit was aimed at easing tension between the two neighbouring countries. Both presidents pledged to continue to work to resolve all outstanding issues that would allow their countries to regain their former fraternal ties. According to the communique, both men discussed the situation in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular Uvira and Ituri districts, and agreed to support the implementation of peace processes in Burundi and the Congo. They also recommended that a regional summit on Burundi be held as soon as possible. Regarding the Congo, they called upon all Congolese parties to work for the establishment of a national transitional government, due to be installed on 28 May. They urged the parties to stop arming militia groups "and negative forces" within eastern DRC. The presidents and Short agreed to hold a meeting in six months time to review progress. On Wednesday, Kagame held talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on bilateral issues between Rwanda and the UK. Kagame briefed Straw about plans for presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for later this year.