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CONFIDENTIAL
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59E686 071609Z /38
O 071607Z JUL 94
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8148
INFO ALLEU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 07520
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND EUR/NE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, BE, FR, RW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAWSON'S JUNE 7 MEETING IN BRUSSELS
WITH JACQUES BIHOZAGARA
1.
C - ENTIRE TEXT
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SUMMARY
2. AMBASSADOR RAWSON MET JUNE 7 IN BRUSSELS WITH JACQUES
BIHOZAGARA, RWANDAN PATRIOTIC FRONT'S (RPF) EUROPEAN
REPRESENTATIVE. BIHOZAGARA CONFIRMED THE RPF WAS STILL
DISTRUSTFUL OF OPERATION TURQUOISE BUT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT
REASSURED IF CURRENT UNAMIR TROOPS WERE USED TO REPLACE
SOME OF THE EXISTING FRENCH TROOPS. BIHOZAGARA SAID THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: HARRY R MELONE
DATE/CASE ID: 24 MAR 2006 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
EB-01
JUSE-00
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UNCLASSIFIED
RPF'S OBJECTIVES HAD BEEN 80-90 PERCENT FULFILLED.
CONSOLIDATION OF THE RPF'S GAINS WAS THE NEXT STEP. THE
RPF WOULD ANNOUNCE A CEASEFIRE AND WOULD TRY TO PROCEED AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH FORMATION OF A GOVERNMENT AND
RESTRUCTURING OF THE ARMY.
3. BIHOZAGARA SAID THE RPF EXPECTED TO FORM A NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE ARUSHA ACCORDS, BUT WITH
ADJUSTMENTS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE RPF
WANTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DECLARE ITSELF.
STATEMENTS LIKE THE ONE ISSUED BY BELGIUM WERE HELPFUL, AS
THEY DISCOURAGED THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT. HE QUESTIONED US
VIEWS ON THE DEFINITION OF A BROADLY-BASED REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND INSISTED THERE WAS BOTH COLLECTIVE AND
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MASSACRES. THOSE WHO WERE
FOUND GUILTY COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
BIHOZAGARA OBLIQUELY QUESTIONED THE FUTURE OF
MULTIPARTYISM IN REBUILDING RWANDA, SAYING IT WOULD LEAD
TO A REPEAT OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT REINED IN RWANDA
FROM DEC. 93 UNTIL APRIL 94.
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4. AMBASSADOR RAWSON REMINDED BIHOZAGARA THAT THE USG HAD
EARLY CALLED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MASSACRES. ANY EMERGING GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENJOY THE
RESPECT AND SUPPORT OF LARGE NUMBERS OF THE RWANDAN
POPULATION AND SHOULD STRIVE TO ENCOURAGE HUTUS TO
PARTICIPATE IN POWER SHARING. THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE ON
BOTH SIDES. A WAY HAD TO BE FOUND TO OBTAIN THEIR SUPPORT
AND ASSISTANCE. END SUMMARY
5. AMBASSADOR RAWSON MET JUNE 7 IN BRUSSELS WITH JACQUES
BIHOZAGARA, RPF'S EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE. BIHOZAGARA
SAID HE WAS SPENDING MOST OF HIS TIME MARCHING ABOUT
EUROPE PROMOTING EFFORTS TO LAUNCH UNAMIR II. THE RPF, HE
STATED, WAS STILL DISTRUSTFUL OF THE GOF AND OF OPERATION
TURQUOISE. THERE HAD BEEN CERTAIN RECENT INCIDENTS THAT
RISKED DESTABILIZING NOT ONLY RWANDA BUT ALSO NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THEREFORE, HAD TO
HURRY UP AND ORGANIZE QUICKLY THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNAMIR
II. As Kigali was now secure in RPF hands, UNAMIR's
presence was no longer necessary in the capital. The
UNAMIR troops could be used to replace some of the french
soldiers from operation Turquoise. THE RPF, HE SAID,
WOULD BE SOMEWHAT REASSURED ABOUT FRENCH INTENTIONS IF
UNCLASSIFIED
THIS WERE DONE.
UNCLASSIFIED
6. BIHOZAGARA REVIEWED THE RPF'S TWO MOST IMPORTANT
OBJECTIVES: STOPPING THE MASSACRES AND NEUTRALIZING THE
ARMY AND MILITIAS. ACCORDING TO BIHOZAGARA, THE FRONT HAD
ACHIEVED BETWEEN 80-90 PERCENT OF ITS OBJECTIVES.
CONSOLIDATION OF ITS GAINS WOULD NOW ENSUE. HE CONFIRMED
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THE RPF WOULD ANNOUNCE A CEASEFIRE AND WOULD TRY TO
PROCEED TOWARDS A RESTRUCTURING OF THE ARMY AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
7. TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF GOVERNMENT FORMATION,
BIHOZAGARA SAID THE RPF EXPECTED TO FORMA NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE ARUSHA ACCORDS, BUT "ADJUSTED" TO
MEET THE REALITIES OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE FRONT
WANTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DECLARE ITSELF.
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ACTION AF-01
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INFO LOG-00
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UNCLASSIFIED
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8149
INFO ALLEU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 BRUSSELS 07520
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND EUR/NE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, BE, FR, RW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAWSON'S JUNE 7 MEETING IN BRUSSELS
WITH JACQUES BIHOZAGARA
STATEMENTS SUCH AS THOSE MADE BY THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT
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(SEPTEL) WERE HELPFUL. SUPPORT FOR AN ARUSHA-BASED
GOVERNMENT DISCOURAGED THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT WHICH BORE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MASSACRES. HE WANTED SIGNALS WHICH
WOULD SHOW THAT GOVERNMENT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEM.
8. AMB. RAWSON REVIEWED US RELATIONS WITH INTERIM
GOVERNMENT (INCLUDING VISA REFUSALS FOR OFFICIALS WANTING
TO COME TO WASHINGTON) AND OUTLINED USG VIEWS ON THE
FORMATION OF A FUTURE GOVERMENT. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD
NOT BE ANOTHER "SELF-PROCLAIMED" GOVERNMENT CLAIMING
RIGHTS BASED ON A PARTICULAR POLITICAL OR MILITARY
POSITION. WE WISHED ALL PARTIES TO ENGAGE IN THE FRANK
DIALOGUE THAT WILL RESULT IN A GOVERNMENT. THIS WAS
IMPORTANT FOR THE SAKE OF OBTAINING PEACE IN RWANDA
THROUGH A GOVERNMENT THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO A LARGE
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, WHICH SUPPORTED THE ARUSHA ACCORDS. THE SPIRIT
OF ARUSHA SHOULD GOVERN THESE EFFORTS.
9. BIHOZAGARA ASKED AMB. RAWSON TO DEFINE A BROADLY-BASED
OR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. BIHOZAGARA AGREED THAT
UNDER THE ACCORDS, THE PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN PARTIES
HAD BEEN GUARANTEED. THE SITUATION HAD CHANGED, HOWEVER.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING THE MRND, BIHOZAGARA SAID THERE
WAS BOTH COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
MASSACRES. A PARTY HAD TRAINED MILITIAS THAT WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF KILLINGS. PARTY MEMBERS HAD
NOT DISSOCIATED THEMSELVES FROM THE PARTY. THESE PEOPLE
COULD NOT BE CALLED MODERATES. THE ARUSHA ACCORDS WOULD
BE APPLIED TO HELP THE RPF "CATEGORIZE" PEOPLE BY HOW THEY
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HAD BEHAVED. THOSE ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN AND
ENCOURAGING THE MASSACRES WOULD BE TRIED, JUDGED, AND IF
FOUND GUILTY, PARDONED OR PUNISHED. THIS COULD BE
ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE RWANDAN JUDICIARY OR BEFORE AN
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.
10. BIHOZAGARA SUGGESTED THAT THE USG RECONSIDER ITS
VIEWS ON THE ROLE OF MULTIPARTYISM IN REBUILDING RWANDA.
HE RHETORICALLY ASKED WHETHER WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE
PARTICIPATION OF ALL POLITICA2#(-S-TE THAT PREVAILED IN THE COUNTRY BETWEEN DEC. 93 A]
APRIL 94. THIS ATMOSPHERE, HE CLAIMED, PREVENTED THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ARUSHA. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD BE A
RECESS FOR PARTY ACTIVITY WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WORKED ON
THE CRITICAL AGENDA OF NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION.
11. AMBASSADOR RAWSON RESPONDED BY THANKING BIHOZAGARA
FOR THE FRONT'S MEASURED RESPONSE TO THE FRENCH INITIATIVE
AND FOR AVOIDING DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH OPERATION
TURQUOISE. HE ENCOURAGED CONTINUED CONTACTS WITH FRENCH
OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS. ON THE
QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT FORMATION, AMB. RAWSON EXPLAINED
THE USG DID NOT INSIST THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MASSACRES BE INCLUDED IN A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT.
ARUSHA OFFERED A MODEL FOR PARTICIPATION BY THE POLITICAL
PARTIES. WE HELD TO THE SPIRIT OF POWER-SHARING
ENCOMPASSED IN ARUSHA BUT IT WAS UP TO RWANDANS TO
DETERMINE HOW THAT SHOULD BE WORKED OUT. OUR CONCERN WAS
THAT ANY GOVERNMENT THAT RESULTED FROM THESE EFFORTS ENJOY
THE RESPECT AND SUPPORT OF LARGE NUMBERS OF THE RWANDAN
PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE RURAL POPULATIONS IN THE HILLS. ONE
OF THE CRUCIAL ISSUES WAS ENCOURAGING HUTUS TO PARTICIPATE
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UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
IN POWER SHARING WITH TUTSIS. THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS
SHOULD BE A RWANDAN MODEL, NOT A UGANDAN OR ANY OTHER
FOREIGN MODEL. THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES,
AMBASSADOR RAWSON NOTED. A WAY HAD TO BE FOUND TO OBTAIN
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ACTION AF-01
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PRM-10 PRME-01 DRL-09 G-00
59E6AB 0716092 /38
O 071607Z JUL 94
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8150
INFO ALLEU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE
INFO LOG-00
EUR-01
LAB-01
PA-01
SP-00
PMB-00
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 BRUSSELS 07520
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND EUR/NE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, BE, FR, RW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAWSON'S JUNE 7 MEETING IN BRUSSELS
WITH JACQUES BIHOZAGARA
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
THEIR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION IN REBUILDING RWANDA.
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