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RDF, UPDF Happy With Talks

The New Times (Kigali)
NEWS
November 21, 2006
Posted to the web November 21, 2006

By Our Reporter
Kigali
Talks between the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) Chief of General Staff, General
James Kabarebe and the Chief of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF),
General Aronda Nyakairima were fruitful, the military has said. Speaking on
phone yesterday, the RDF Spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara said both sides were
satisfied with the progress registered so far, in regard to the full
restoration of cooperation between the two institutions. "Progress has been
registered; both sides observed the need to clear all obstacles including
bureaucratic bottlenecks and resolved on practical steps towards the fulfilment
of relations," Rutaremara said.
He also said that all the joint mechanisms had been revived, with the
responsible designated officials identified and a timeframe for implementation
of resolutions agreed upon.
He said the designated officials would constitute an evaluation committee
charged with fasttracking the normalisation of relations. Rutaremara further
said that the two parties had agreed on new confidence-building mechanisms
including, among others, the interaction of officials from the RDF and UPDF.
"The talks were frank and held in a jovial atmosphere," Rutaremara said, adding
that the two parties also resolved to resist people bent on frustrating the
progress. Among other issues, Rutaremara said, the RDF and UPDF officials had
resolved to forward cross-cutting issues that are beyond their capacity to
address, to the other respective organs of state. The next meeting is slated
for March next year, Rutaremara said, and added however, that consistent talks
between officials of the two forces would continue. General Aronda left for
Uganda yesterday evening.
PICTURED: The RDF Chief of General Staff Gen. James Kabarebe (C) shares a word
with the visiting Uganda People's Defence Forces chief Gen. Aronda Nyakairima
(L). Looking on right is the RDF Spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara.


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