Continuation of contacts and prospects for cooperation

On 2 August 2018, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda in the Russian Federation Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya paid an official visit to JINR accompanied by Defence Attache of the Embassy of Rwanda in the Russian Federation Colonel Emmanuel Gashaija.

This visit continued the contacts that had been established during the visit of Rwanda representatives to JINR in June 2018.

In the JINR Directorate, the high-level delegation was welcomed by JINR Vice-Director M.G. Itkis who opened the meeting with an introductory overview of the Institute. Ambassador Mujawamariya in her response highlighted that Rwanda is greatly interested in development of cooperation with JINR, a widely famous and dynamically developing research centre with scientific achievements of the world level. Ambassador pointed out training of staff and participation in joint research projects as the major fields of Rwanda interests: “I hope that our scientists of a new generation, having gained valuable research experience here, will not only pass this knowledge to compatriots but, having taught us, they will also be helpful for your Institute as well.” According to Ambassador, Rwanda has successful experience in training students in the frames of cooperation with CERN and would like to broaden these activities by joining the JINR student programmes. Furthermore, Ambassador Mujawamariya expressed her hope that Rwanda representatives will have an opportunity this year to take part in the international training programme “JINR Expertise for Member States and Partner Countries” (JEMS) implemented by JINR.

After the meeting in the JINR Directorate, Ambassador Mujawamariya got acquainted with the scientific infrastructure of the Institute visiting several laboratories of JINR: the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, the Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energy Physics.

Summing up the milestones of discussions, the parties pointed out key areas of mutual interests and guidelines for drafting the plan of joint actions for 2018 – 2019, which will launch cooperation between Rwanda and JINR. Among the specific steps, an event of scientific and educational nature is planned to be held in 2019 in Rwanda that is presupposed by the joint work plan of the JINR and UNESCO, which has been discussed during the Round Table in February 2018 in Paris.

Photos by Elena Puzynina, JINR Scientific Information Department