Citation
: CONFIDENTIAL /!] v/3]
Your ‘ le: Our file: 3/88/1
17:38 (5872) 700/NYK/00000/00000 $431.97
FROM: NEW YORK C04775/NYK 15-JTul-1994
TO: WELLINGTON WGEN UNSC Immediate
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SECURITY COUNCIL: RWANDA
Summary
France seeks (but doesn't get) qguidance from the Council on
how €o deal with members of the "interim government"
might be found in the French protected zone.
Action
For information
Report
who
At informal consultations this morning, the Secretariat
(Ghaäarekhan) updated the Council on the situation in Rwanda.
2 Gharekhan had been told by the SRSG (Khan) in Kigali that
there were strong rumours (not confirmed) that the “interim
government" had fled Gisenyi. Some had gone to Goma and some
had allegedly been seen in Cyanqgugu which was in the French
humanitarian zone.
3 Meanwhile, the situation in Kigali was quiet,
even
relaxed. People were returning to the capital, some with the
assistance of UNAMIR. À Special Envoy of UNHCR had arrived
in the city.
à SRSG Khan had met with General Kagame, the Chief of Staff
of the RPF that morning. Kagame told Khan that RPF intended
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to declare à unilateral ceasefire very soon, within 24
hours. {Gharekhan commented that he inferred from this that
the RPF had achieved, or were close to achieving, their
military objectives which meant they probably had controi of
the Rusengheri corridor and Gisenyi.) Kagame had requested
that UNAMIR monitor the ceasefire. The modalities of the
ceasefire could be worked out in consultation with UNAMIR.
5 Kagame was very Kkeen to gainsay the reports spread by
Radio Rwanda, RGF officers and prefects in RGF controlled
areas that the RPF intended to massacre the Hutu and commit
unspeakable torture. Kagame said that all people were
welcome to return to their homes and they would not be
harmed. Gharekhan confirmed that Radio Rwanda and RGF
officials were major contributors to the panic which had led
to the massive exodus in recent days. In response to a
question from the UK, Gharekhan said that the SRSG was
talking to the PM designate Twagiramungu as well as Kagame.
6 In two interventions, the French made quite clear their
extreme discomfort with the rapidly developing situation.
With respect to the rumours that members of the "interim
government" were in the French zone, the French Charge
d'Affaires (Ladsous) said that he was "not in a position" to
confirm them (however he didn't deny them either). His
authorities had issued a statement that it was "not
desirable" for political officials to enter the zone.
Activities of a political or military character would harm
the humanitarian character of the zone. Later in the
morning, Ladsous intervened again with news just to hand (the
mobile phone was running hot) that the RPF had expressed its
intention to enter the humanitarian zone. Ladsous concluded
by saying that his government was seeking the "guidance!" of
the Council. The humanitarian zone had been set up pursuant
to a Council resolution. It was being managed by the French
on behalf of the international community. The French did not
want to act on their own. They wanted reactions from the
national authorities of SC members on this complex and
dangerous situation.
7 No-one responded to the French plea for guidance. The
President suggested that we should remain in close touch on
the issue and that more information would be faxed to us in
the course ©f the day.
8 After the meeting, the French relaxed a little after
seeing a letter to Ambassadors from the RPF inviting them to
the swearing-in of the new Rwandese Government on 18 July in
Kigali. (Copy follows to Wellington.) We raised the
question of RPF entering the zone with the RPF representative
who said that they were hoping that the French would
"cooperate". They also told us that they had had reports
from France that the French Government had announced its
intention to arrest members of the "interim government" found
in the humanitarian zone.
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