New Zealand Speaker marks 25th Anniversary of Rwandan Genocide

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, New Zealand has collated and released material in the government’s possession related to the Genocide.

In 2014, New Zealand made public four volumes of reporting that covered the period 31 March to 19 July 1994.

Today during the first Speaker-led New Zealand Parliamentary visit to the Republic of Rwanda Rt Hon Trevor Mallard Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives presented an additional fifth volume, which contains the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s official files from 22 July to 8 November 1994 to Dr Richard Sezibera, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the people of Rwanda.

The Speaker said today, “New Zealand sat as a member of the Security Council at that time and sought the intervention of the international community to end the atrocities. I consider there to have been a tragic failure in international political will to assist, and I regret that New Zealand was unable to facilitate decisive and immediate intervention.”

“I am proud that New Zealand did advocate strongly for the United Nations to play a significant role in the protection of civilians who were being subjected to the Genocide.”

“Our countries share an important connection in the search for peace and security, through the United Nations Security Council and beyond. The 25th Anniversary presents an important moment to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in the atrocities, their families, friends, and communities.

I am honoured to be with the people of the Republic of Rwanda today. Thank you to Rt Hon Donatille Mukabalisa, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and Rt Hon Bernard Makuza President of the Senate for receiving me and my Delegation so warmly. I am hopeful for the continued peace and prosperity for all Rwandans and I am heartened to observe first-hand the enormous progress the country has made.”

The fifth volume presented by the Speaker covers the months immediately following the end of the 1994 Genocide, and includes reporting from New Zealand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and from other New Zealand posts. It documents the New Zealand Cabinet's decision to send support for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Agency's coordinated emergency response, and New Zealand's work to help establish the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

The Speaker’s Delegation will be in the Republic of Rwanda 17-20 April 2019.

ENDS

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