The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has called on all Irish people to observe a minute's silence at noon tomorrow in memory of the victims of Rwanda's genocide ten years ago.
Around 800,000 people were killed in three months during 1994 in clashes between Hutus and Tutsis.
"The minute-long reflection will be a tribute both to those who died in the terrible events of 1994 and those who survived and are currently re-building Rwanda," Mr Cowen said.
The General Assembly of the United Nations has officially designated tomorrow as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on all nations and peoples of the world to remember the genocide by observing the silent tribute.
Mr Cowen will represent the European Union at a commemoration ceremonies in the Rwandan capital Kigali.
