Kagame holds a several high-level meetings in New York

While in New York to attend the UN summit on HIV/AIDS, Rwandan President Paul Kagame held a number of high-level meetings to discuss the current situation in the Great Lakes region and development support to his country, according to reports from Rwandan presidential spokesman Nicholas Shalita. On Tuesday, Kagame met with UK secretary of state for international development, Clare Short and UK ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock. Discussions focused on issues of bilateral interest between Rwanda and UK, particularly on development support by the UK government to Rwanda. Kagame briefed Short on the current status of the DRC conflict, where he “expressed concern about the DRC government’s continued violation of the Lusaka peace agreement by supporting the ex-FAR and Interahamwe”. They also discussed the conflict in Burundi and difficulties preventing full implementation of the Arusha peace agreement. On Wednesday, Kagame held talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan regarding the DRC conflict, again expressing concern over the DRC government’s “continued violation” of the Lusaka peace agreement. Kagame also met the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu.