Chemical weapons team visits Kigali

A delegation from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is in Rwanda to explore ways of supporting the country in its ratification of a chemical weapons convention, the Rwandan News Agency, RNA, reported on Monday.

"We are in Rwanda to help the government in the ratification of the agreement which the country signed in 1993," Yu Huang, the organisation's director of external relations, was quoted as saying.

The organisation was set up in 1997 by the countries that have joined the Chemical Weapons Convention to make sure that it achieves its purpose. It undertakes activities worldwide aimed at convincing countries that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the agreement. The organisation also monitors activities in the chemical industry to reduce the risk of commercial chemicals being misused.

Huang said that although Rwanda did not posses chemical weapons, it was important to be a state party in the fight against chemical weapons, RNA reported.

"The ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention demonstrates a political will in the implementation of peace and security of the country," Huang was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Radio Rwanda reported on Monday that a Belgian delegation led by the country's defence minister, Andre Flahaut, was in the country to ask the government to officially recognise the death of 10 Belgian soldiers who died during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The soldiers were killed while serving as part of the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda. Belgium is seeking to have the soldiers be remembered among the other victims of the 1994 as they died in line of duty in a peace mission.