Citation
- ; MDHIAN 0763
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FM UKMIS NEW YORK: ja cp un En :f
TO IMMEDIATE FCO _
TELNO 1389 _.
OF 190121Z APRIL Dé"
INFO IMMEDIATE PARIS, BRUSSELS, KAMPALA,; ROME, DHAKA, ACCRA
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, DAR ES SALAAM, ADDIS ABABA
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, SECURITY COUNCIL POSTS, ACTOR
MY TELNOS 1374 AND 1375: RWANDA
4. Council President briefs on meeting with Bangladeshi Permanent
Representative. Latter underlines his government's commitment to
participation in UNAMIR but seeks assurances that should the
security situation deteriorate, the Security Council would take
appropriate decisions to ensure the safety of the Bangladeshi
contingent.
2. Secretariat brief on developments. Fighting continues.
Killing appears to be intensifying behind Rwandan Government Lines.
No ceasefire or truce, although negotiations continue. UNAMIR
regrouping forces particularly at airport. Force Commander and
Special Representative reviewing the situation and expect to
present further recommendations on UNAMIR's future within the next
few days.
DETAIL
3. Keating (New Zealand, Council President) opened informel
consultations of the Security Council on 18 April with a report on
his meeting earlier in the day with the Bangladeshi Permanent
Representative. Bangladesh was still committed to participation in
UNAMIR but the Ambassador had wished to underline the concern his
government felt at the gravity of the situation in Rwanda. They
were becoming increasingly nervous about the security of their
contingent and wanted assurances from the Security Council that the
situation was being monitored Very closely and that, if the level
of threat increased significantly, Bangladesh would be informed and
the Security Council would take appropriate action. Keating said
that he had given these assurances and hed also relayed the
Secretariat's view that at present an announcement of the impending
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withdrawal of UNAMIR would be the step most Likely to damage the
force's safety.
4. Gharekhan (Secretary-General's Special Political Adviser) gave
a briefing on current developments,. He noted that UNAMIR now had a
very Limited presence outside Kigali and that its information was
very much Limited to Kigali. Fighting had continued throughout the
city. The RPF was in control of north Kigali and continued to move
troops into the city. Their offensive had slowed down, eîther
deliberately or because they were meeting resistance from the
Rwandan government forces. Rwandan government forces were also
reported to be defending positions in other regions across the
country. The number of killings had increased, particularly in
areas behind the Rwandan government Lines and ahead of the RPF
advance. The evacuation of foreigners continued.
5, Since the initial face to face talks between the parties the
Force Commander and the Secretary-General's Special Representative
(SGSR) had continued to encourage negotiations for a ceasefire or a
truce but this had not been achievable so far. The RPF were
insisting there could be no ceasefire until the killings behind- the
government lines stopped. UN reports confirmed that massacres were
continuing in Kigali. UNAMIR was regrouping its forces
particularly at the airport. ALL Belgian hesdquarters staff had
Left Rwanda on 17 April. The Ghanaïan battalion was scheduled to
take over from the Belgian battalion at the aïrport on 19 April.
The Ghansaians from the DMZ had now all deployed to Kigali. Two
Ghanaïan soldiers had been wounded but not seriously.
6. Gharekhan said the humanïtarian situation was deteriorating
significantly. The Force Commander had set up a small humanitarian
cell to gather information on the situation. DHA had made
arrangements to despatch a team to Kigali but it was unlikely they
would be able to reach the city or carry out an assessment of needs
in the absence of a ceasefire,
7. Gambari (Nigeria) drew Council members' attention to
information he had received from Secretary-General of the OAU.
Salim Salim had been in direct contact with the first Vice Chaïrman
of the RPF and reiterated the OAÙU's deep concern at the killings in
Rwanda and called for an immediate end to this. The RPF had .
reéplied that the reason they had moved towards Kigali was that they
felt they had a responsibility to protect their own personnel and
supporters. Salim Salim was also in touch with President Museveni
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who had also met the RPFE in Kampala and encouraged the RPF to agree
to a ceasefire. The OAU was therefore complementing the efforts of
the UN.
8. Bizimana (Rwanda) added that efforts were underway to try to
organise a meeting on 23 April in Arusha during which the two
parties might meet and examine the situation including the need for
a ceasefire.
9. No one else spoke. Gharekhan noted that Force Commander and
the SRSG would be submitting further recommendations on the future
of UNAMIR within the next few days.
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