Making his opening remarks at the symposium on genocide against Tutsis on Monday, Rwanda's Minister for Sports and Culture Joseph Habineza said all efforts should be made to preserve whatever was available after the genocide.
‘'I heard that ICTR archives could be preserved either in Europe or Tanzania. Why? They are our archives and we want them here [Rwanda],'' the Minister emphasized before the participants at the Serena Hotel.
The United Nations Security Council is still debating on where to keep the ICTR archives as the UN court winds up all first instance trials later this year. Three countries are considered as front-runners to host the ICTR archives namely Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya.
The minister also informed the participants that the government would soon conclude discussions with experts from the United Kingdom on how to preserve the remains of various genocide memorial museums in the country.
Other items earmarked to be preserved include tools used for killings, gacaca (Rwandan semi traditional courts) records and images, books, movies, documentaries and memorial sites.
Professor Laurent Nkusi, President of Rwanda Scientific Commission, when presenting a paper titled ‘' Keeping Memory and Documentation'' stressed that keeping memory would facilitate reconciliation process and also serve as a lesson to the Rwandans and the world at large.
The three-day symposium organized by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), is part of the activities to mark the 16th anniversary of genocide.
President Paul Kagame is expected to address the nation at Amahoro Stadium on April 7.
NI/SC/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency