Minister Cowen represents the EU at commemoration of the Genocide in Rwanda

The President of the Council of Ministers, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, today represented the EU at events to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. In his remarks at the National Stadium in Kigali, Minister Cowen said: “The commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda is an occasion for reflection and sadness on the part of all in the international community. The European Union would like to pay tribute to those who died and render homage to the strength and courage of the survivors. The European Union also salutes the effort and success of the Rwandan people in re-building their country following the horrific events of 1994. The progress which has been achieved in Rwanda over the past decade and the efforts underway to achieve national reconciliation demonstrate the strength of purpose of the Rwandan people to ensure that there is never again a re-occurrence of such atrocities to the Rwandan people. “However, it is clearly not just the Rwandan people who must say never again… It is clear that tragic mistakes were made by the international community before and during the genocide. The international community’s response to the genocide came too late and proved insufficient. The challenge to never again fail to prevent such horrors lies at the heart of the European Union's policy. The European Union is ambitious in its objective to avoid the recurrence of genocide anywhere in the world, yet humble in knowing that whatever it does, it may not be enough.” In concluding, Minister Cowen pledged that the European Union would “stand shoulder to shoulder with heads bowed in solidarity and in recognition of the suffering of the people of Rwanda – of the dead, of those whose conscience will haunt them to the grave and of the survivors”. Top