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ACTION AF-01
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RELEASED IN FULL
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80CB73 020249Z /63/38
R 301435Z NOV 92
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2376
INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE //ECJ2/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC //USDP//
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 04 KIGALI 04929
CORRECTED COPY (TEXT THROUGHOUT)
PARIS FOR PERLOW
DEPT FOR AF/C AND AF/RA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, RW
SUBJECT: VISIT WITH RPF COMMANDER KAGAME
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1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY: U.S. REPRESENTATIVES HELD A THREE HOUR
MEETING WITH RPF MILITARY COMMANDER, MAJOR PAUL
KAGAME, BEHIND RPF LINES IN NORTHERN RWANDA ON 28
NOVEMBER TO DISCUSS INTEGRATION OF MILITARY FORCES
AND DEMOBILIZATION OF COMBATANTS. KAGAME HAD THREE
MESSAGES FOR THE U.S. TO TAKE AWAY: THE RPF WILL NOT
INITIATE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS, BUT WILL FIGHT IF
ATTACKED; THE RPF REMAINS VERY UPSET WITH THE FRENCH
ROLE IN THE CONFLICT AS THEY BELIEVE THAT THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ARCHIE M BOLSTER
DATE/CASE ID: 04 NOV 2011 201005065
F7
UNCLASSIFIED
CONTINUED FRENCH PRESENCE CONTRIBUTES TO
INTRANSIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE
RPF WILL SEEK TO CLARIFY AT THE NEXT JPMC WHETHER THE
FRENCH ARE A BELLIGERENT IN THE CONFLICT OR AN
OBSERVER SEEKING TO FURTHER THE PEACE PROCESS; THE
RPF IS FRUSTRATED BY THE DELAYS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS,
SINCE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE DELAYS ARE A PLOY BY
PRESIDENT HABIYARMANA TO AVOID ADDRESSING THE KEY
POLITICAL ISSUES AND TO UNDERMINE THE PEACE PROCESS.
END SUMMARY.
3. MICHAEL ZORICK OF EMBASSY KIGALI AND VISITING
AF/RA MILITARY REPRESENTATIVE LTC TONY MARLEY MET
WITH THE RPF MILITARY COMMANDER, MAJOR PAUL KAGAME,
FOR THREE HOURS ON 2B NOVEMBER. THE VENUE FOR THE
MEETING WAS A TIN SHED JUST OFF THE BYUMBA-GATUNA
(KIGALI - KAMPALA) HIGHWAY 12 KM (BY ROAD) FROM THE
UGANDAN BORDER. THE CROSSING OF THE RPF-FAR FRONT
LINES/CEASEFIRE LINE (16 KM BY ROAD FROM THE UGANDAN
BORDER) WAS AGREED TO BY BOTH WARRING PARTIES AND
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FACILITATED BY THE OAU NEUTRAL MILITARY OBSERVER
GROUP (NMOG). ZORICK AND MARLEY WERE ACCOMPANIED TO
THE MEETING BY THE NMOG OPERATIONS OFFICER, NIGERIAN
LTC COLLINS IHEKIRE, THE SENEGALESE CONTINGENT
COMMANDER, COL GUEYE, AND SENIOR RPF NMOG MEMBER
KAREEE KARENZI.
4. INITIALLY, THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE MEETING WAS
SOMEWHAT FORMAL AND STRAINED, BUT AFTER KAGAME HAD
VENTED HIS FRUSTRATIONS CONCERNING THE FRENCH, THE
MOOD BECAME MORE CASUAL AND THE KAGAME EXHIBITED
GREATER CANDOR CONCERNING OTHER ISSUES. THE RWANDAN
MINISTER OF DEFENSE, DR. JAMES GASANA, HAD ASKED
MARLEY TO CONVEY A MESSAGE FROM GASANA TO PAUL
KAGAME. HE WANTED KAGAME TO KNOW THAT THE RWANDAN
GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INITIATE OFFENSIVE MILITARY
OPERATIONS, AND THAT THE FAR IS NOT CONDUCTING
PREPARATIONS FOR SUCH AN OFFENSIVE. GASANA IS AWARE
THAT KAGAME IS HEARING REPORTS TO THE CONTRARY AND
WANTED TO COUNTER SUCH RUMORS WITH HIS PERSONAL
GUARANTEE. KAGAME THANKED THE U.S. FOR CONVEYING THE
MESSAGE AND ASKED THAT MARLEY PASS THE RPF'S
RESPONSE: THE RPF WILL NOT INITIATE OFFENSIVE
OPERATIONS, BUT ARE FULLY PREPARED TO FIGHT IF
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ATTACKED. LATER IN THE MEETING, KAGAME EXPRESSED
DOUBTS CONCERNING WHETHER GASANA COULD EITHER BE
TRUSTED, OR HAD THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE THE ASSURANCE
ANY VALUE, BUT STRESSED THAT THE RPF WANTED THE U.S.
TO KNOW THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATIONS
PROCESS AND ESCHEW INITIATING OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
UNCLASSIFIED
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5. KAGAME INDICATED THAT THE RPF REMAINS ANGRY AND
FRUSTRATED BY THE FRENCH MILITARY ROLE IN THE RWANDAN
CONFLICT. THE RPF BELIEVES THAT FRENCH COMBAT
SUPPORT IN EARLIER BATTLES, AND THE CONTINUED FRENCH
MILITARY PRESENCE GIVES THE RWANDAN MILITARY (FAR) A
FALSE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND LEADS TO INTRANSIGENCE
ON THE PART OF PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA AND THE RWANDAN
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CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 04 KIGALI 04929
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DEPT FOR AF/c AND AF/RA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, RW
SUBJECT: VISIT WITH RPF COMMANDER KAGAME
GOVERNMENT. KAGAME SAID THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING OF
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THE JOINT POLITICAL-MILITARY COMMISSION, THE RPF WILL
SEEK CLARIFICATION AS TO WHETHER FRANCE IS A
RESPONSIBLE OBSERVER IN THE NEGOTIATIONS SEEKING TO
FURTHER THE PEACE PROCESS, OR IF IT IS AN ACTIVE
BELLIGERENT IN THE CONFLICT. KAGAME CONTINUED THAT
THE RPF WANTS THE FRENCH COMBAT TROOPS WITHDRAWN FROM
RWANDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE
CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT OF 12 JULY 92.
6. THE TWO NMOG REPRESENTATIVES, WHO WERE SITTING IN
ON THE MEETING, PUBLICLY SECONDED THE NEED FOR THE
FRENCH WITHDRAWAL. LTC IHEKIRE REPORTED THAT THE
RWANDAN GOVERNMENT STILL OBSTRUCTS NMOG MOVEMENTS IN
AREAS OF FRENCH MILITARY ACTIVITY, AND RELATED A
RECENT INCIDENT IN WHICH AN NMOG PATROL ENCOUNTERED
FRENCH COMBAT FORCES MOVING AS PART OF A FAR CONVOY.
SENEGALESE COLONEL GUEYE SAID THAT FRENCH MILITARY
ENGINEERS WERE HELPING THE FAR DIG DEFENSIVE
POSITIONS.
7. CONCERNING THE FRENCH PRESENCE, MARLEY
ACKNOWEDGED THAT THE U.S. HAD "KICKED THE CAN DOWN
THE ROAD" AT THE PAST TWO JPMC MEETINGS, BUT THAT
NMOG HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO REPORT ON THE MATTER AT THE
UNCLASSIFIED
NEXT (AS YET UNSCHEDULED) MEETING OF THE JPMC.
CONTINUING TO DISCUSS THE FRENCH, KAGAME STATED THAT
THE CURRENT FRENCH ACTIVITIES ARE NOT IN THE INTEREST
OF THE RWANDAN PEOPLE AND THAT BY ASSOCIATING ITSELF
IN SO STRONG A MANNER WITH THE CURRENT REPRESSIVE
GOVERNMENT, THE FRENCH ACTIONS ARE CONTRARY TO
FRANCE'S INTERESTS IN AFRICA. KAGAME CONCLUDED THAT
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HE FORESEES NO SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR FRENCH MILITARY
ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF A RWANDAN PEACE
ACCORD.
ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS
8. KAGAME SAID THAT THE RPF IS FRUSTRATED BY THE
FREQUENT AND LENGTHY DELAYS EXPERIENCED IN THE PEACE
NEGOTIATIONS NECESSITATED BY THE GOVERNMENT
DELEGATION'S QUESTIONABLE MANDATE. THE RPF BELIEVES
THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR CONSULTATIONS IN KIGALI,
COUPLED WITH NUMEROUS UNHELPFUL PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY
PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA, ARE AN EFFORT BY THE PRESIDENT
TO UNDERMINE THE PEACE PROCESS SO AS TO AVOID
POWER-SHARING AND OTHER POLITICAL CONCESSIONS.
KAGAME WENT ON THE SAY THAT, DESPITE THEIR
FRUSTRATION CONCERNING THE PACE OF THE PROCESS, THE
RPF REMAINS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING A NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENT TO THE CONFLICT.
NMOG PERFORMANCE
9. KAGAME EXPRESSED SATISFACTION, BOTH PUBLICLY AND
IN PRIVATE, WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NMOG IN
MONITORING THE RWANDAN CEASEFIRE. HE SAID THAT NMOG
HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO COMPROMISE ITS NEUTRALITY,
AND HAS UNDERTAKEN GREAT EFFORTS TO INVESTIGATE
CEASEFIRE ALLEGATIONS AND TO DIMINISH TENSIONS
BETWEEN THE FACTIONS. IN THE FORMAL MEETING, KAGAME
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STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE NMOG TO KEEP ONE OR TWO
OBSERVER TEAMS ON THE RPF SIDE OF THE LINE AT ALL
TIMES, BUT THAT HE CANNOT FORCE THEM TO DO SO. IN
PRIVATE, KAGAME SAID THAT THE RPF PLANS TO FORMALLY
ASK AT THE NEXT JPMC MEETING THAT NMOG KEEP MONITORS
BEHIND RPF LINES.
UNCLASSIFIED
MILITARY TECHNICAL TALKS
10. KAGAME SAID THAT THE RPF DELEGATION FOR THE
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FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
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AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE //ECJ2/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC //USDP//
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 04 KIGALI 04929
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PARIS FOR PERLOW
DEPT FOR AF/C AND AF/RA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, RW
SUBJECT: VISIT WITH RPF COMMANDER KAGAME
MILITARY NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE LED BY MEMBER OF THE
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HIGH COMMAND BISARUGA. AN OFFICER PRESENT DURING THE
MEETING, SENIOR OFFICER KAYUMBA NYAMWASA (PREVIOUSLY
A LIEUTENANT IN THE UGANDAN NRA) WILL BE A MEMBER OF
THE MILITARY NEGOTIATING TEAM. RPF JPMC MEETING
REPRESENTATIVES TITO AND RUDASINGWA WILL NOT
PARTICIPATE IN THE MILITARY TECHNICAL TALKS ACCORDING
TO KAGAME.
FORCE INTEGRATION ISSUES
11. - GENDARMERIE. KAGAME SAID THAT THE RPF HAS NOT
YET DETERMINED ITS POSITION CONCERNING THE
GENDARMERIE. IF THERE IS A GENDARMERIE, THE RPF
INTENDS TO INTEGRATE FORCES INTO IT, BUT THEY ARE NOT
SURE IF THEY WANT TO RETAIN A GENDARMERIE AT ALL.
KAGAME'S VIEW IS THAT IF THERE WERE A TRAINED
NATIONAL POLICE FORCE, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR
GENDARMES. WHILE COLONEL GUEYE UNDERTOOK TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO KAGAME CONCERNING THE ROLES AND
MISSIONS OF A GENDARMERIE WITHIN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
STRUCTURE, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AN ILL-TRAINED AND
UNDISCIPLINED GENDARMERIE IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC
SECURITY.
- FORCE SIZE. KAGAME STATED THAT IF THE GENDARMERIE
IS RETAINED WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, THE RPF
ENVISIONS A MILITARY TOTALLING 20-30,000 MEN. LATER,
HE SAID THAT IF THE GENDARMERIE IS NOT RETAINED, HE
FORESEES A MILITARY STRENGTH OF 10-15,000.
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- INTEGRATION RATIO. KAGAME WAS NOT PREPARED TO
DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE RPF'S VIEWS ON THE RELATIVE
PERCENTAGES OF PERSONNEL TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE
POST-WAR MILITARY FROM THE RPF AND FAR BEYOND STATING
THAT HE DID NOT WANT THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE RATIO TO
BE TOO GREAT. IN PRIVATE CONVERSATION, HE INDICATED
THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A COPY OF A CONFIDENTIAL RWANDAN
GOVERNMENT STUDY ON THE ISSUE THAT RECOMMENDED A
RATIO OF 15:1 (FIFTEEN FAR FOR EACH RPF MEMBER
ACCEPTED), AND THAT SUCH A RATIO IS COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE. COMMENT: ON 28 OCT 92, BOTH THE FAR
CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE MADE
REFERENCE TO THIS STUDY AND THE 15:1 RATIO. END
COMMENT.
- ETHNICITY. KAGAME STATED THAT THE ISSUE OF
ETHNICITY (TUTSI VERSUS HUTU) IS OVERSTRESSED WHEN
CONSIDERING FORCE RATIOS IN INTEGRATION. HE SAID
THAT THE RPF IS ETHNICALLY MIXED, WHILE THE FAR HAS
USED ETHNICITY TO EXCLUDE TUTSIS. HE WENT ON TO
CLAIM THAT THE FAR FAILS TO REPRESENT HUTU DIVERSITY,
BUT THAT THE ARMY WAS RECRUITED ONLY FROM "ONE
VILLAGE." LTC MARLEY RESPONDED THAT WHILE ETHNICITY
IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, IN
THE CASE OF RWANDA IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO PRETEND
THAT ETHNICITY WAS NOT AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE
CONFLICT. COMMENT: BY HIS OWN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE
FAR'S EXCLUSION OF TUTSIS, KAGAME ACKNOWLEDGES THE
CRITICALITY OF ETHNICITY, BUT THE RPF WOULD LIKE TO
PORTRAY THE CONFLICT AS ONE PITTING A MULTI-ETHNIC
DEMOCRATIC MASS MOVEMENT AGAINST THE EVIL REGIME OF
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THE REPRESSIVE PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA. END COMMENT.
- TRANSITION. KAGAME SAID THAT HE ENVISIONS THE
MILITARY TRANSITION/INTEGRATION PERIOD LASTING 3-4
YEARS. HE SEES THE POSSIBILITY OF A TWO TRACK
TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, WITH MILITARY TRANSITION HAVING
A LONGER DURATION THAN THE POLITICAL TRANSITION.
12. FOLLOWING THE MEETING IN THE SHED, KAGAME ASKED
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USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE //ECJ2/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC //USDP//
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 04 OF 04 KIGALI 04929
PARIS FOR PERLOW
DEPT FOR AF/C AND AF/RA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, RW
SUBJECT: VISIT WITH RPF COMMANDER KAGAME
IF THE GROUP WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE UP TO THE UGANDAN
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BORDER. KAGAME TOLD HIS DRIVER TO GET IN BACK, AND
THEN DROVE HIMSELF AND MARLEY IN HIS LAND ROVER UP TO
GATUNA AND BACK TO ALLOW THE DISCUSSION TO CONTINUE
UNCLASSIFIED
IN PRIVATE. THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD
BETWEEN KILOMETER MARKER 12 AND THE BORDER. FROM THE
PARKING AREA ON THE RWANDAN SIDE OF THE FRONTIER, THE
BRIDGE CROSSING INTO UGANDA APPEARED INTACT/REPAIRED,
BUT THE DISTANCE WAS TOO GREAT TO BE SURE.
13. DISCUSSING HIMSELF, KAGAME SAID THAT HE EXPECTS
TO REMAIN IN THE MILITARY FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF A
PEACE AGREEMENT. WHILE HE CLAIMS TO WANT TO KEEP THE
MILITARY APOLITICAL, HE IS ALSO INTERESTED IN THE
POSSIBILITY OF A POLITICAL CAREER. KAGAME STATED
THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO FT. LEAVENWORTH
THROUGH THE IMET PROGRAM AS A RWANDAN OFFICER AND
COMPLETE THE ARMY COMMAND AND STAFF COURSE.
14. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE VISIT, KAGAME THANKED
THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ROLE THE U.S. IS
PLAYING IN THE INTERESTS OF PEACE IN RWANDA AND FOR
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO MEET WITH THE RPF. HE ALSO
EXTENDED AN INVITATION FOR THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
TO VISIT AGAIN WHENEVER THEY WISHED IN THE FUTURE,
AND TO STAY FOR 2-3 DAYS, IF POSSIBLE, TO PROVIDE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OTHER AREAS OF THE RPF TERRITORY.
15. COMMENTS ON THE RPF. RPF PERSONNEL APPEARED FIT
AND WERE ATTIRED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF UNIFORMS, WITH
MOST PERSONNEL HAVING A MIX OF UNIFORM ITEMS. THE
CLOTHING INCLUDED UNIFORM ITEMS FROM THE U.S.,
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FRANCE, UGANDA AND TANZANIA. THE UNIFORMS WERE CLEAN
AND IN A GOOD STATE OF REPAIR. MOST OF THE PERSONNEL
WORE RUBBER "WELLINGTON" TYPE BOOTS, WHICH WERE ALSO
IN GOOD CONDITION. THE WEAPONS, PRIMARILY AK-47'S
AND RPG'S, WERE ALL CLEAN AND APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD
OPERATING CONDITION. PERSONNEL HANDLED THEIR WEAPONS
PROFESSIONALLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE. RPF PERSONNEL
DEMONSTRATED CORRECT MILITARY COURTESY, BOTH AMONG
THEMSELVES AND WITH THE U.S. AND NMOG VISITORS.
PERSONNEL ON CHECKPOINTS WERE ALERT AND PROFESSIONAL
IN THEIR MANNER, NEITHER SLOUCHING ABOUT NOR
THREATENING. IN GENERAL, THE RPF PERSONNEL THAT WERE
OBSERVED (A TOTAL OF SOME 100 BETWEEN THE CEASEFIRE
UNCLASSIFIED
LINE AND THE BORDER) APPEAR TO BE DISCIPLINED,
CONFIDENT, AND POSSESSED OF HIGH MORALE. WHILE THIS
MAY WELL HAVE BEEN A SELECT GROUP FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE VISITING MZUNGUS, IT CONTRASTED FAVORABLY WITH
THE FAR TROOPS OBSERVED AT VARIOUS CHECKPOINTS ALONG
THE ROUTE. WHILE THE FAR SOLDIERS WERE EQUIPPED WITH
COMPLETE UNIFORMS, PERSONNEL AT CHECKPOINTS MOST
OFTEN NEEDED TO CLEAN BOTH THEIR WEAPONS AND
UNIFORMS. FAR DISCIPLINE WAS FAR MORE LAX THAN THAT
OF THE RPF; ALTHOUGH THIS WAS THE CASE, THE
SENEGALESE COLONEL MADE THE COMMENT THAT ON THIS
PARTICULAR DAY THE FAR PERSONNEL WERE ACTUALLY MORE
RESPONSIVE THAN USUAL IN THEIR FREQENTLY GRUDGING
COOPERATION AT CHECKPOINTS.
16. COMMENT ON FRENCH REACTION. THE EVENING OF 28
NOVEMBER, AFTER RECEIVING A SHORT BRIEFING ON THE
VISIT WITH THE RPF, THE COMMANDER OF THE FRENCH
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AIRBORNE UNIT WORKING IN RWANDA SAID THAT WHILE THE
FRENCH WERE HELPING THE FAR STRENGTHEN ITS DEFENSIVE
LINES AND WOULD SUPPORT THEM IF ATTACKED, THAT THEY
(THE FRENCH) WOULD NOT PERMIT, REPEAT PERMIT, THE FAR
TO INITIATE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST THE RPF.
FLATEN
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