Uganda, Rwanda Tension Irks EU

By Alfred Wasike THE European Union is “very concerned about and closely monitoring” the new tension creeping into Uganda-Rwanda relations, the Belgian ambassador to Uganda, Carl Peeters has said. Belgium is the current president of the 15-member European bloc who are involved in “intensive consultations about the new Uganda-Rwanda tension and security in the Great Lakes Region.” A delegation of EU leaders led by the Belgian Deputy Premier and foreign affairs minister, Louis Michel, completed a tour to promote peace in the region. They met President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday at the end of the tour. A fresh wave of tension has reportedly hit Uganda and rwanda who were once firm allies against insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo where their armies clashed. On November 6, a meeting of presidents Museveni and Kagame, brokered by the British Premier, Tony Blair, sat in London to reconcile Uganda and Rwanda. “We are watching the very unfortunate situation between the two neighbours very closely. We are in intensive consultations and we shall soon come up with a joint position to help eliminate the sources of tension”, Peeters said. He said, “We were very happy with the situation after one of our members, the United Kingdom, brokered talks between presidents Museveni and Kagame in London.” Peeters added, “Our position is still bound by the resolution of the November 19 European Union foreign ministers in Brussels. They said, “We welcome the agreement between presidents Museveni and Kagame brokered by the United Kingdom which aims at reducing the sources of tension between the two nations. Ends