The other day, I was invited to the Embassy of Rwanda by Ambassador Charles Murigande.
We talked for an hour at the Embassy in Fukasawa Setagaya, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
I have not been to Rwanda yet but have some links ( 1 , 2 ) to Rwanda.
When I mentioned Romain Murenzi, the Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), whom I have met with on a number of occasions, it turned out that he and the Ambassador are longtime friends, even having attended the same school and sitting next to each other in class. They have both served as governmental ministers and are also scientists.
The tragedy of the Rwandan Genocide started in April twenty years ago. Today, Rwanda has overcome this sadness and has transformed into a new country that looks remarkably different from its past.
The Ambassador had some documents with him and told me he had attended the GRIPS Commencement ceremony last September and that he had been very moved by my speech.
It was a meeting in which I felt that we had many common friends and stories to share.