President Jakaya Kikwete has re-emphasised the country’s commitment to defend its sovereignty insisting, however, that no hostility exists between Tanzania and Rwanda or any other country.
President Jakaya Kikwete
Addressing the nation in his routine monthly address, President Kikwete assured the people of Rwanda that Tanzania was determined to maintain close and cordial relationship with Rwanda and all her neighbours, saying:
“As neighbours, we need each other, therefore we need to have good relations and close cooperation.”
He said Tanzania was committed to build and strengthen good neighbourliness and to do things that will help create friendly relations for the benefit of our countries.
“As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed in our relations with Rwanda, neither has the good intentions diminished in any way,” he assured the people of Rwanda.
He said he personally has not said anything bad against Rwanda despite the insults and sarcastic pronouncement against me from Rwandan leaders.
“Not that I don’t know what they say or that I do not know what to say, but I believe that it will be of no benefit to either of us. Besides, wisdom tell us not to hype a non-existent dispute. Two wrongs do not make a right,” he advised.
Mr Kikwete expressed disappointment for misinterpretation of his speech in Kagera on July 25, this year, at the occasion to mark the National Heroes’ Day as some of the media outlets, both local and foreign misinterpreted the message.
“The speech I made in Kagera was focused on the need for Tanzanians to remember and honour the responsibility to safeguard the national freedom and the territorial borders just as the fallen heroes did.
I emphasised that any attempt to appropriate part of our country will be met with appropriate response as it happened in 1978/79 in the war that finally ousted the former Ugandan dictator, Idi Amini,” President Kikwete clarified.
He added: “The interpretations given by the media and some of our neighbours were misleding. I did not mention anybody’s name or any country but rather I spoke about the national obligation by the army and that of the citizens to defend the country’s territorial borders,” he explained.
Some of the international media reported that President Kagame had allegedly made irreconcilable remarks regarding the appeal by President Kikwete for peaceful negotiations as the best option for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
Commenting on historic visits to Tanzania by world leaders and other international dignitaries, President Kikwete thanked fellow Tanzanians for hospitality accorded to the visitors, saying that they helped advertise the country to open opportunities in tourism trade and investment.
“They all returned to their countries with excellent memories of our country. Among the visitors were more than 800 delegates to the Global 2013 Smart Partnership Dialogue held in Dar es Salaam between June 28 and July 1, this year, whose participants included Head of Governments and States, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, both local and international business personalities, academicians, among other invited guests.
By BILHAM KIMATI, Tanzania Daily News
