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I grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda, and I lived there for 30 years. That shapes one's character.

Paul Kagame

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Paul Kagame
Age: 67
Born: 1957
Born: October 23
Military Officer
Politician
President Of Rwanda
Camp
Camps
Shapes
Lived
Grew
Character
Years
Uganda
Refugee

More quotes by Paul Kagame

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We cannot turn the clock back nor can we undo the harm caused, but we have the power to determine the future and to ensure that what happened never happens again.
Paul Kagame
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Infrastructure is key, but also how it's used, and that's political.
Paul Kagame
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Such problems are not solved in one day but there is a great step toward peace and security in the region.
Paul Kagame
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Aid leads to more aid and more aid and more aid and less independence of the people that are receiving aid.
Paul Kagame
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Israel and Rwanda both play an active part in international organizations, including the U.N., but I think it's true that our unique experiences as nations have shaped a fierce independence that we will not relinquish.
Paul Kagame
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A strong leader is not necessarily a bad leader.
Paul Kagame
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The new Rwanda is about building an economy that delivers prosperity and opportunity for our citizens based on a robust private sector. Foreign adventures would be costly and counterproductive distractions from these challenging objectives.
Paul Kagame
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The history and national interest of Rwanda and the Rwandan people dictate our national orientation.
Paul Kagame
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Listen more to the one who criticizes you and less to the one who praises you. Learn from them and do something about it.
Paul Kagame
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I do not want to be cynical, but if developing nations are kept backward by being told, again and again, you belong to the poor and you are there, where you actually belong, then nothing will change.
Paul Kagame
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The West is anything but altruistic.
Paul Kagame
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It is the first time in the history of Rwanda that political change in the highest leadership of the country has taken place in peace and security.
Paul Kagame
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Rwanda is not over needing aid, but we can survive with less aid than before.
Paul Kagame
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Rwanda has its own problems and never sought to blame others or cause others trouble. I advise Burundi to do the same.
Paul Kagame
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My own experience from a decade ago taught me I cannot trust the UN. But it is a world body and we have to live with it and tolerate it. But I can't hide my feelings about its inefficiency and its not being productive.
Paul Kagame
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Reconciliation takes time. Sometimes many decades, as the example of Europe shows. It is hard work.
Paul Kagame
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Human rights groups are locked in a fierce competition for big checks from wealthy donors and they need to generate big headlines.
Paul Kagame
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I had to fight hard for everything. I wanted to get out. I want to take my destiny into my own hands and escape the vicious cycle of retaliatory violence. This struggle has shaped who I am to this day.
Paul Kagame
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Reconciliation has taken place here in Rwanda and was successful because Rwandans reconciled themselves internally. If the tribunal had taken place in Rwanda, it might have helped. People could have watched justice being done.
Paul Kagame
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My purpose is to develop a country, to empower its population. It's from that same population that will emerge the man or woman who will succeed me. And they will be chosen based on the consensus that they have the capacity to lead the country.
Paul Kagame