July 15 1994 From: Edward Brynn, Acting Sec. of State for African Affairs Excerpt: Diplomatic Initiatives We have been pressing the RPF to agree to a cease-fire ever since fighting resumed in April. We redoubled this effort in the face of the current humanitarian crisis. arguing that Rwandans will continue to flee into Zaire and the French safe zone in huge numbers as long as the RPF offensive continues; As a result of a phone demarche by AF DAS Bushnell. RPF Commander Kagame gave hiis verbal commitment that his troops would stop fighting by the night of July 15. Although he initially had said that a cease-fire would be declared in a few days. he became far more forthcoming after DAS Bushnell informed him that we had decided to de-recognize the interim government. It is not yet clear whether the RPF has in fact halted its advance. With the·interim government forces routed and its leadership in flight, the RPF is now in a position to dictate the terms of a political settlement. However. the Tutsi population whom the RPF primarily represents is only a small fraction of vRwandas population. and the RPF will not be able to govern the country on its own. In our demarches to the RPF. we have stressed that Rwanda must have a truly broad-based government with power sharing between the RPF and a broad spectrum of Hutu parties, if the country is to have a real chance at lasting peace and national security. This government should be the result of genuine dialogue between all relevant political elements, not merely the product of RPF diktat. A truly representative government would reassure the civilian population and encourage an earlier return of refugees and displaced persons. The RPF contends that it is committed to the principles of power sharing set forth in the Arusha peace accords and has been meeting with surviving moderate Hutu party leaders to set up a broad-based transition government. The RPF ha~ just announced that the new government will be installed by July 18. The RPF seems to be moving very quickly. raising questions as to whether the government is truly the product of multi-party dialogue. We need to proceed cautiously before endorsing the new governments legitimacy. state.gov/documents/organization/164169.pdf
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 02:45:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015