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ORIGIN AF-01
STATE
339779 232222Z
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 OASY-00 EUR-01
01G-04
01C-02
ADS-00
10-16
/045R
DRL-09
PRM-10
OIG0-01 FBIE-00 TEDE-00
TRSE-00 FMP-00
SR-00
DRAFTED BY: USEU BRUSSELS:CBOECKMAN:MHD
APPROVED BY: AF/FO:GEMOOSE
AF/E:DHSHINN
AF/C:ARENDER
961BBD 232223Z /38
P 232220Z DEC 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 339779
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU; ROME ALSO FOR FODAG
- E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREF, EAID, UNAMIR, RW, OAU
SUBJECT: DISCUSSIONS WITH OAU IN BRUSSELS
REF: STATE 327467
CHANGE OF SUBJECT LINE AND CABLE REFERENCE: REVISED
VERSION
SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION
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STATE 339779 232222Z
1. FOLLOWING MEETINGS WITH EU COMMISSIONER PINHEIRO
(REFTEL) AND U.S.-EU TROIKA CONSULTATIONS ON AFRICA, AF
A/S GEORGE MOOSE MET IN BRUSSELS DECEMBER 2 N
REPRES NTA IVES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY
(OAU). THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO OBTAIN THE OAU
REACTION TO ITS FIRST EVER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EU AND
TO BRIEF THE OAU REPRESENTATIVES ON THE U.S.-EU TROIKA
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY:
HARRY R. MELONE
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TALKS. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE REGIONAL REFUGEE CONFERENCE
SLATED TO TAKE PLACE IN BURUNDI WAS A TOP PRIORITY. MOOSE
WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AF/E DIRECTOR DAVID SHINN, AF/C
DIRECTOR ARLENE RENDER AND AF SPECIAL ASSISTANT ROGER
IRVIN. THE OAU SIDE WAS REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY GENERAL BROWNSON N'DEDE (NIGERIAN) AND WAWA LEBA
(ZAIROIS), DIRECTOR OF THE BRUSSELS OAU OFFICE.
EU -OAU DIALOGUE
2. A/S MOOSE ASKED ABOUT THE EU-OAU CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
DISCUSSIONS. THE OAU REPRESENTATIVES REPLIED THAT THIS
WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH THE
EU; THE TALKS WENT SMOOTHLY. THE EU TRIED TO ESTABLISH
CONCEPTS WITH WHICH THE OAU MEMBERS WOULD BE COMFORTABLE.
THEY AGREED THAT THE EU'S AFRICAN WORKING GROUP WOULD MEET
EVERY SIX MONTHS WITH THE OAU. THEY ALSO AGREED TO NAVE
ANNUAL MEETINGS AT THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL USING THE TROIKA
SYSTEM. THE MEETINGS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN ADDIS ABABA
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AND EU CAPITALS. ALL PARTIES AGREED ON THE NEED FOR
INCREASED AND IMPROVED OAU-EU DIALOGUE.
3. A "HIGH LEVEL QUAI D'ORSAY OFFICIAL" WAS SCHEDULED TO
MEET IN MID-DECEMBER WITH OAU SECRETARY GENERAL SALIM
SALIM TO DISCUSS RWANDA AND PROBLEMS RELATED TO REFUGEE
CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. IN RESPONSE TO
CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE REFUGEE
CAMPS, THE OAU SUPPORTED A REFUGEE CONFERENCE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE IN BURUNDI. IDEALLY, THE OAU REPRESENTATIVES
SAID, IT SHOULD BE HELD BEFORE THE OAU COUNCIL OF
MINISTERS MEETING WHICH IS SLATED FOR LATE JANUARY.
OAU CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER
4. THE OAU CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER IN ADDIS ABABA IS
NOW FUNCTIONING WITH CORE STAFF, INCLUDING A SENIOR
MILITARY ANALYST AND AN ELECTORAL MONITORING UNIT. ITS
PRIORITY IS "PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY." N'DEDE ARGUED THAT
THE OAU'S CAPACITY FOR INTERVENTION SHOULD BE
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STRENGTHENED. INADEQUATE FUNDING IS LIMITING, HOWEVER,
THE MECHANISM'S ABILITY TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED. HE URGED
THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO STRENGTHEN THE MILITARY
CAPACITY OF THE MECHANISM BY SECONDING NON-AFRICAN
MILITARY PERSONNEL VIA THE UNITED NATIONS. THIS WOULD
HELP REDUCE AFRICAN SENSITIVITIES. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE
FIVE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION FROM THE U.S. WILL BE
USED TO ENHANCE THE OAU'S CONFLICT PREVENTION MECHANISM.
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STATE 339779 232222Z
5. ONE OF THE FIRST TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE OAU'S
CONFLICTRESOLUTION CENTER WILL BE THE PROBLEM OF RWANDA
AND ITS FORMER ARMY. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSENSUS SO FAR
ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. THE OAU WOULD LIKE TO FIND
A FACILITATOR, PREFERABLY AN AFRICAN OF CONSIDERABLE
STANDING, TO HELP COORDINATE THE REBUILDING OF RWANDA.
SECURITY IN REFUGEE CAMPS
6. N'DEDE EXPLAINED THAT THE OAU IS CONSIDERING THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON SECURITY IN THE
REFUGEE CAMPS. HE SAID IT IS BETTER FOR THE OAU TO START
SMALL AND DO SOMETHING THAN TO DO NOTHING WHILE WAITING
FOR THE PERFECT SOLUTION.
7. N'DEDE SAID THREE ELEMENTS ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE
RETURNEES:
--DUE TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES IN POSSESSION OF THE
AFRICAN TROOP CONTRIBUTORS, FOREIGN COUNTRIES SHOULD
SPONSOR INDIVIDUAL AFRICAN UNITS;
--RWANDA FACES A CATCH-22 SITUATION; IT NEEDS RESOURCES TO
DO WHAT DONORS WANT, BUT THE DONORS PUT FORTH IMPOSSIBLE
CONDITIONS BEFORE DISTRIBUTING FUNDS; AND
--RETURNEES LACK CLEAR TITLE TO THE LAND HEY PREVIOUSLY
OCCUPIED, THUS COMPLICATING PEACEFUL RESETTLEMENT.
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FUNDING AND SUPPORT ISSUES
8. THE EU HAS RELEASED 67 MILLION ECUS FOR SECURITY IN
RWANDAN REFUGEE CAMPS. THE EU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CLEAR
MOVEMENT TOWARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROAD-BASED
GOVERNMENT BEFORE MAKING MORE MONEY AVAILABLE. THE EU
DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT HE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS
SUFFICIENTLY REPRESENTATIVE. THE OAU IS FOLLOWING CLOSELY
THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ISSUE TO ENSURE THAT THE RWANDAN
GOVERNMENT WILL ADMINISTER JUSTICE FAIRLY.
9. THE OAU WELCOMED THE EXTENSION OF UNAMIR BUT URGED
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY COME FORWARD WITH
ADEQUATE RESOURCES SO THAT THE POLITICAL, MILITARY AND
ECONOMIC ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
10. THE OAU HAS 47 HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS FOR BURUNDI. IT
BELIEVES THAT THEY WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IF THEY
HAD ADEQUATE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT
FUNDING TO PURCHASE VEHICLES FOR THE MONITORS TO TRAVEL.
THE OAU REQUESTED AMERICAN ASSISTANCE. TALBOTT
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