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/071W
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39DB19 090150Z /38
0 090146Z APR 94 ZFF4
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI NIACT IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5579
INFO WHITEHOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
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CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001476
DEPT FOR IO/UNP, IO/PHO, AND AF/C;
WHITEHOUSE PASS TO NSC FOR RICE AND MOZENA;
JOINT STAFF FOR CHAIRMAN, DIR JS, J3;
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA
E.0.12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: MARR, PINS, PREL, MOPS, PGOV, KDEM, RW, UNSC
SUBJECT: WGRWOL: UN SYG LETTER TO SC; RPF THREATS;
SC INFORMALS; PROVISIONAL GOVT FORMED
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: HARMON E KIRBY
DATE/CASE ID: 06 FEB 2008 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
1.
CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
SYG LETTER
2. THE SYG WROTE TO THE SC PRESIDENT TO ADVISE THAT
EVACUATION OF UN CIVILIAN STAFF AND FOREIGN NATIONALS
FROM RWANDA MIGHT BE NECESSARY, IN WHICH CASE UNAMIR
WOULD BE HINDERED UNDER ITS PRESENT MANDATE AND RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT. SHOULD UNAMIR BE REQUIRED TO EFFECT SUCH
EVACUATION, THE FORCE COMMANDER WOULD NEED 2 TO 3
ADDITIONAL BATTALIONS FOR THAT PURPOSE. COMPLETE TEXT
OF SYG'S LETTER BELOW AT PARA 13. THE SYG'S LETTER WAS
NOT MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL HALFWAY THROUGH THE COUNCIL'S
INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS. THE SECRETARIAT INDICATED THAT
THE SYG DID NOT/NOT WANT COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION NOW, BUT
MERELY BE INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY.
SECRETARIAT BRIEFING TO SC
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THE
SECRETARIAT
BRIEFED THE COUNCIL APRIL 8 ON THE
3.
SITUATION IN RWANDA. MANY RWANDANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND
THE SITUATION IS PRECARIOUS. FOUR UNAMIR PERSONNEL HAVE
BEEN WOUNDED, TWO SERIOUSLY. ONE OF THE SERIOUSLY
WOUNDED IS URUGUAYAN. OF THE TWO CAPTURED GHANAIANS,
ONE HAS RETURNED SAFELY TO UNAMIR AND THE OTHER WAS
STILL IN CUSTODY, BUT UNHARMED. TWO BELGIAN CIVILIANS
HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE RPF IS OUT OF THEIR CORDONED
AREA, AND NOW CONTROL THE APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT.
THE SRSG IS WORKING TO SECURE AN EFFECTIVE CEASE-FIRE.
THE GENDARMERIE ARE THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE, THE
PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS THE LEAST. A CEASE-FIRE WAS
SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT AT 2 PM, BUT WAS POSTPONED TO
4 PM (LOCAL KIGALI TIME). (COMMENT: THE UN
SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD USUN THAT THE CEASE-FIRE WAS POSTPONED
UNTIL 6:30 PM 4/9 AT WHICH TIME ALL TROOPS WOULD RETURN
TO THEIR BARRACKS WITH THEIR WEAPONS. END COMMENT.)
THE FORCE COMMANDER HAD CONVINCED THE RPF NOT TO MOVE
OUT OF THE DMZ. THE REST OF RWANDA, OUTSIDE KIGALI, WAS
CALM EXCEPT FOR SOME TENSION AROUND THE DMZ.
4. THE SECRETARIAT CONTINUED THAT SRSG BOOH-BOOH IS
TRYING TO CONSTITUTE AN INTERIM POLITICAL AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, COMMUNICATION IS DIFFICULT WITHIN KIGALI;
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PHONES ARE DOWN AND TRAVEL ALONG THE STREETS IS
DANGEROUS. THE RPF WOULD JOIN AN INTERIM AUTHORITY,
PROVIDED THE ARMY AND GENDARMERIE PROMISE TO PUNISH
WHOMEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS. THE
GENDARMERIE AND ARMY APPEAR TO BE NOT OPPOSED TO JOINING
AN INTERIM AUTHORITY. THE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE IS
SAFE IN UNAMIR HEADQUARTERS.
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5. COMMENT: THE UN INFORMED USUN LATER THAT A
PROVISIONAL POLITICAL AUTHORITY HAD BEEN FORMED, WITH
PRESIDENT THEODORE SINDIKUBWABO OF THE NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND PRIME MINISTER JEAN KAMBANDA OF
THE RWANDA DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PLUS FIVE MINISTERS.
THIS WAS NEGOTIATED WITH THE POLITICIANS AND THE ARMY;
THE PRESIDENTIAL GUARD CONCURRED. END COMMENT.
6. THE SECRETARIAT REVEALED THAT FORCE COMMANDER (FC)
GEN. DALLAIRE DURING THE NIGHT OF 4/7-8 HAD SPECIFICALLY
ASKED UNHQ WHETHER UNAMIR COULD HELP IN ANY EVENTUAL
EVACUATION OF FOREIGN NATIONS. UNHQ TOLD HIM IT WOULD
BE OUTSIDE UNAMIR'S PRESENT MANDATE TO ASSIST AN
EVACUATION, AND UNAMIR DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED
ASSETS. EXISTING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE THAT FORCE CAN
BE USED ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE OR IF UNAMIR IS FORCED TO
DEFEND MEMBERS OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT. THE
SECRETARIAT INDICATED THAT GEN. DALLAIRE HAD GONE A BIT
BEYOND THAT AND HAD HIS MEN FIRE INTO THE AIR AS A
DETERRENT. DALLAIRE FELT HE DID NOT/NOT NEED
REINFORCEMENTS WITH THE PRESENT MANDATE IN THE PRESENT
SITUATION. IF A CEASE-FIRE HOLDS, IT WOULD BE A
PRIORITY OF THE SRSG AND FC TO GET AGREEMENT FROM ALL
PARTIES ON THE EVACUATION OF UN CIVILIAN STAFF AND
FOREIGN NATIONALS.
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39DB24 090151Z /38
O 090146Z APR 94 ZFF4
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI NIACT IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5580
INFO WHITEHOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
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CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001476
DEPT FOR IO/UNP, IO/PHO, AND AF/C;
WHITEHOUSE PASS TO NSC FOR RICE AND MOZENA;
JOINT STAFF FOR CHAIRMAN, DIR JS, J3;
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA
E.0.12356: DECL:OADR
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
TAGS: MARR, PINS, PREL, MOPS, PGOV, KDEM, RW, UNSC
SUBJECT: WGRWOL: UN SYG LETTER TO SC; RPF THREATS;
SC INFORMALS; PROVISIONAL GOVT FORMED
FRENCH VIEWS
7. FRENCH AMBASSADOR MERIMEE EMPHASIZED THAT THE MAIN
OBJECTIVE OF UNAMIR SHOULD BE TO REESTABLISH SOME SORT
OF POLITICAL AUTHORITY. TWO FRENCH CIVILIANS HAD BEEN
ASSASSINATED, IN ADDITION TO THE TWO BELGIANS MENTIONED
BY THE SECRETARIAT. IF THE SITUATION WORSENED AND
EVACUATION WERE NEEDED, THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER
GIVING UNAMIR A NEW MANDATE TO ALLOW IT TO ASSIST THE
EVACUATION AND EVACUATE ITSELF. IF THERE WERE NO
DETERIORATION AND A POLITICAL AUTHORITY WAS ESTABLISHED,
UNAMIR'S CURRENT MANDATE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. MERIMEE
UNDERLINED THAT THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF A GOVERNMENT
WAS TO PROTECT ITS NATIONALS. IF FRANCE WERE OBLIGED TO
SEND IN A BATTALION, IT WOULD BE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE
PURPOSES OF EVACUATING THEIR NATIONALS, AND WOULD WORK
IN COOPERATION WITH UNAMIR.
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US REMARKS
USUN N 01476 02 OF 03 090150Z
8. U.S. DEPUTY PERMREP WALKER CAUTIONED THAT MORE
INFORMATION WAS NEEDED BEFORE THE COUNCIL COULD MAKE AN
INFORMED DECISION. TAKING A HOSTILE AIRPORT, SECURING
ITS PERIMETER, ETC. WOULD BE COMPLICATED. IF THE
EVACUATION WERE DONE BY THE UN, INSTEAD OF BY NATIONAL
FORCES, A GREAT DEAL OF PLANNING WOULD BE REQUIRED.
WALKER ALSO POINTED OUT THAT RESOLUTION 872, OF OCTOBER
5, 1992, GAVE UNAMIR A MANDATE TO "CONTRIBUTE TO THE
SECURITY OF THE CITY OF KIGALI INTER ALIA WITHIN A
WEAPONS-SECURE AREA ESTABLISHED BY THE PARTIES IN AND
AROUND THE CITY" AND TO "ASSIST IN THE COORDINATION OF
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH
RELIEF OPERATIONS". DEPENDING ON INTERPRETATION, THIS
MANDATE COULD GIVE THE FC A GOOD DEAL OF LATITUDE.
OTHER REMARKS IN SC
9. RUSSIA AND SPAIN SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SPEAK TO THE PRESS. IT WAS AGREED SC
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PRESIDENT KEATING (NEW ZEALAND) WOULD TELL THE PRESS THE
COUNCIL HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE SYG, AND WAS
CONTINUING TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS. ALSO THAT THE
COUNCIL SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS OF THE SRSG AND FC TO
ESTABLISH A CEASEFIRE AND A PROVISIONAL POLITICAL
AUTHORITY. KEATING WOULD NOT GET INTO DETAILS ON
MODALITIES, SUCH AS CHANGING MANDATE, EXPANDING FORCE,
ETC.
10.
ARGENTINA SUGGESTED THAT THE SYG SHOULD CONTACT
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THOSE COUNTRIES WITH NATIONALS IN RWANDA WHICH WERE
CAPABLE OF UNDERTAKING AN EVACUATION IN ORDER TO
COORDINATE. EVACUATION SHOULD NOT BE SELECTIVE. THE
CZECH AMBASSADOR ASKED IF TROOP CONTRIBUTORS WERE BEING
KEPT INFORMED. SECRETARIAT REPLIED AFFIRMATIVELY AND
SAID A TROOP CONTRIBUTORS MEETING WOULD BE HELD NEXT
WEEK. SPAIN HOPED THE SECRETARIAT WAS DOING CONTINGENCY
PLANNING.
11. AMP. KEATING INFORMED THAT COUNCIL THAT RPF
REPRESENTATIVE CLAUDE DUSAIDI HAD MET WITH HIM APRIL 8.
HE REPORTED THAT DUSAIDI SAID THE RPF HAD SHOWN
RESTRAINT AND MAINTAINED THEIR POSITIONS. THE RPF WOULD
PREFER ANY EVACUATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS TO BE
UNDERTAKEN BY UNAMIR. DUSAIDI WAS INSTRUCTED TO REQUEST
THAT ALL EVACUATION MOVEMENTS BE FULLY DISCUSSED WITH
RPF THROUGH UNAMIR IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY HOSTILE ACTION
INADVERTANTLY TAKING PLACE FROM RPF.S SIDE- ANY
EVACUATION FORCE REMAINING IN RWANDA LONGER THAN
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR EVACUATION WOULD BE CONSIDERED
HOSTILE FORCES. RPF WAS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO ANY CHANGE
IN THE UNAMIR MANDATE WHICH WOULD INVOLVE IT IN A COMBAT
ROLE. ANY INTERVENTION BY UNAMIR (OR OTHERWISE) IN RPF
MOVEMENTS WOULD RESULT IN THE FORCES BEING CONSIDERED AS
HOSTILE. THEY RENOUNCED AGAIN RPF RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE SHOOTING DOWN OF THE PRESIDENTS PLANE. THE ENTIRE
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39DB2F 090151Z /38
O 090146Z APR 94 ZFF4
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI NIACT IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5581
INFO WHITEHOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
CONFIDENTIAL
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USUN N 01476 03 OF 03 090150Z
PAGE 02
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001476
DEPT FOR IO/UNP, IO/PHO, AND AF/C;
WHITEHOUSE PASS TO NSC FOR RICE AND MOZENA;
JOINT STAFF FOR CHAIRMAN, DIR JS, J3;
UNCLASSIFIED
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA
UNCLASSIFIED
E.0.12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: MARK, PINS, PREL, MOPS, PGOV, KDEM, RW, UNSC
SUBJECT: WGRWOL: UN SYG LETTER TO SC; RPF THREATS;
SC INFORMALS; PROVISIONAL GOVT FORMED
POLITICAL CADRE (10-20 LEADING POLITICAL FIGURES) HAD
NOW BEEN ASSASSINATED AND FORMING AN INTERIM
ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE DIFFICULT. HO
WEVER THE RPF
WOULD COOPERATE.
SC NEXT MEETING
12. THE SECRETARIAT WILL GIVE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AN
UPDATE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 9. THE PRESIDENT WILL PASS
THE INFORMATION ON TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF
NECESSARY, THE COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EMERGENCY SESSION
APRIL 9.
13. BEGIN TEXT OF SYG LETTER TO SC PRESIDENT:
8 APRIL 1994
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
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THE MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ARE AWARE OF THE
TRAGIC SITUATION IN RWANDA, AND HAVE BEEN KEPT INFORMED
OF THE REPORTS BEING RECEIVED FROM MY SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FORCE COMMANDER OF UNAMIR.
UNAMIR IS ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE EFFORTS TO SECURE
AGREEMENT ON A CEASE-FIRE IN KIGALI, AND TO PROMOTE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERIM POLITICAL AUTHORITY TO FILL
THE PRESENT VACUUM UNTIL SOME NORMALITY CAN BE
RESTORED. UNFORTUNATELY, SO FAR THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT ARE CONTINUING.
THE SECURITY COUNCIL, IN THE PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF 7
APRIL 1994, HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION AND OF THE FOREIGN
COMMUNITIES LIVING IN RWANDA AS WELL AS OF UNAMIR AND
OTHER UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL,. I FULLY SHARE THIS
CONCERN AND HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FORCE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
COMMANDER OF UNAMIR IN THIS REGARD.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIAN
STAFF FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OTHER
FOREIGN NATIONALS, MIGHT BECOME UNAVOIDABLE, IN WHICH
EVENT UNAMIR WOULD BE HINDERED IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
UNDER ITS PRESENT MANDATE AND RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. THE
MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL MIGHT WISH TO GIVE THIS
MATTER THEIR URGENT ATTENTION.
SHOULD UNAMIR BE REQUIRED TO EFFECT SUCH AN EVACUATION,
THE FORCE COMMANDER ESTIMATES THAT HE WOULD REQUIRE TWO
OR THREE ADDITIONAL BATTALIONS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
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PLEASE ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE ASSURANCES OF MY
HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.
(SIGNATURE) BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI
END TEXT.
ALBRIGHT
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