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DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 8 (AFP) - Tanzania on Friday welcomed a decision by the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Rwanda to oversee the formation of a transitional government in the central African country.
The U.N. security council on Tuesday voted to send up to 2,500 peacekeepers to Rwanda to supervise an accord designed to end civil war between the government and the rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF).
"Tanzania hopes that all the parties concerned will fully cooperate with UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda) in discharging its mandate, which includes monitoring the observance of the ceasefire and the verification of the process of repatriation and resettlement of Rwandan refugees," a statement from the Tanzanian foreign ministry said.
Tanzania played a major role in the year-long peace negotiations before the conclusion of a peace pact in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha in August.
The U.N. resolution will be implemented only at the request and cooperation of both parties.
It allows for an initial six-month mission but stipulates that it will be continued after the first three months only after the security council reviews a report from the secretary-general as to whether or not progress was being made towards the implementation of the Arusha peace accord.
hb/jnm/nb AFP AFP
