The Democratic Republic of Congogovernment has vowed to strengthen ties with neighboring Rwanda. This comesafter President Joseph Kabila named an ambassador to Kigali after years ofstrained diplomatic relations.
Kinshasasaid the recent joint military operation between the two countries aimed atweeding out insurgents in restive North Kivu province was the first step towardbuilding strong relations with its neighbor.
Political analysts have oftenblamed suspicion as the major cause of the tepid relations between Kinshasa andKigali.
"Asyou will recall, early into this year President Kabila took an initiative. Heinvited Rwandan armed forces to join with us in order to dismantle one of thearmed groups working in the North and South Kivu areas," said RaymondTshibanda, Congolese minister of international and regional cooperation.
Hesaid President Kabila's newly named ambassador, Norbert Nkulu Kilombo, signalsa seriousness toward building ties with Kigali.
"TheDRC government has recently advised the government of Rwanda that it plans toappoint Mr. Norbert Nkulu Kilombo as the new DRC ambassador to Rwanda. Theappointment of an ambassador is usually an indication of the quality of therelations a country seeks to establish with another country," he said.
Tshibandasaid Kinshasa aims to build a stronger bond with its neighbor.
"Wehave to go beyond diplomatic relations. We have also to work on improving oureconomic relations. This is another line of action we are working on in orderto strengthen the relations between our two countries," Tshibanda said.
Hedescribed as opening old wounds when questioned about the genesis of thestrained relations between the two countries.
"Idon't think that at this stage it will be helpful to go back over the recenthistory of the relations between our two countries because it would be, I wouldsay, opening old wounds when we should be trying to mend these wounds," hesaid.
Tshibandasaid that top level discussions between the neighboring countries serve asconfidence building measures and are an encouraging sign.
"Weneed to rebuild trust between the two governments. Because we discovered thatworking together, our positions are closer to one another than we thought. Andwe intend to work together until we have solved once and for all this problem"Tshibanda said.
Hesaid Presidents Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame will soon meet as a demonstrationof trust between the two countries.
"Hopefully,sooner than you think. Maybe within the next few weeks. We are working on theidea. We are in constant consultation with Kigali, trying to manage the workschedule of the two heads of state. But we have already agreed in principlethat they are going to be meeting soon," he said.
Thenewly appointed Congolese ambassador, Norbert Nkulu Kilombo, is scheduled toarrive in Rwanda soon.