Rwanda’s Eugene-Richard Gasana (L) speaks to actress Lynn Whitfield (R) at an event in New York City back in 2010
In a move to expand diplomatic clout, Rwanda has established diplomatic relations with the former Yugoslav republic of Montenegro which got independence in 2006.
In New York today, Rwanda’s State Minister in Charge of Cooperation, and Permanent Representative to the UN, Eugène-Richard Gasana and Montenegro’s UN envoy Milorad Šćepanović, will sign a “Joint Communiqué” on the establishment of Diplomatic Relations.
The relations have been put in place between the two countries “in order to strengthen relations, mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” said a statement from Rwanda’s UN office.
It added: “Rwanda and Montenegro are convinced that the establishment of diplomatic relations between them corresponds to the interest of the two States and will contribute to the development of bilateral cooperation and the consolidation of peace in the world.”
Rwanda has over the past few years been expanding its diplomatic wings, to far flung places including former soviet break away states. Montenegro, which broke away from Serbia in 2006, is the latest.