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ORIGIN PM-01
STATE
INFO
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062321
101825Z
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DRAFTED BY: PM/ISP:PSCHULTZ AND VBELON
APPROVED BY: AF/C:ARENDER
OSD:MMYERS
PM:TMCNAMARA
L/PM:CALLEN
JCS:BCHRISTMAN
PM/DRSA:JBOWAB
AF/C:KAISTON
AF/RA:TMARLEY
IO/UNP:SBERRY
AID:MRUGH (INFO)
RP:DKEMB
2E7327 101831Z /38
P R 101824Z MAR 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS STATE 062321
CINCS FOR POLADS, GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: MCAP, MASS, EAID, PREF, RW
SUBJECT: RWANDAN DEMINING DEMARCHE
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1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. SEE PARA 7.
BACKGROUND
2. THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 100 MILLION UNEXPLODED
LANDMINES IN 62 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH EVERY
WEEK CAUSE APPROXIMATELY 150 CASUALTIES, MOSTLY
CIVILIANS. THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS HAS ONLY RECENTLY
AWAKENED TO THE PROBLEM OF UNEXPLODED LANDMINES, BUT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM E LANDFAIR
DATE/CASE ID: 19 JAN 2005 200401096
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CIAE-00
H-01
NSCE-00
TRSE-00
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COVERAGE OF THE ISSUE HAS MARKEDLY INCREASED IN RECENT
MONTHS. IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST COUNTRIES IN ADDRESSING
THIS PROBLEM, CONGRESS AUTHORIZED AD APPROPRIATED OVER
SD 10 MILLION FOR DEMINING ACTIVITIES IN FY94. WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR A NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES THAT ARE SEVERELY AFFECTED BY NEXPLODED
LANDMINES AND OTHER ORDNANCE.
3.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S SURVEY OF THE GLOBAL
PROBLEM OF UNEXPLODED LANDMINES, AS MANY AS FIFTY THOUSAND
OF THESE DANGEROUS WEAPONS REMAIN IN RWANDA. FURTHERMORE,
IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LANDMINE SITUATION IN
RWANDA HINDERS DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
ESSENTIAL TO FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HAS DISRUPTED
THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF INTERNALLY-DISPLACED RWANDANS.
A U.S.-SPONSORED DEMINING ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN RWANDA
COULD FOCUS ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON RWANDAN
NEEDS.
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STATE 062321 101825Z
PROPOSAL
4. THE USG WISHES TO HELP RWANDA EALUATE THIS PROBLEM
AND IS PREPARED TO OFFER TO THE GOR A MINE ASSESSMENT TEAM
TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE NATION'S LADMINE PROBLEM.
IF THE ASSESSMENT TEAM RECOMMENDS ACTION, THE USG WILL
CONSIDER OPTIONS TO PROVIDE MINE AWARENESS AND DEMINING
TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE.
5. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOR TO NDERSTAND THAT THESE
PROGRAMS WOULD BE CONDUCTED BY U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL.
AS WITH PREVIOUS PROGRAMS IN AFGHANISTAN AND CAMBODIA,
QUALIFIED SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES PERSONNEL WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MINE AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND WOULD "TRAIN
THE TRAINERS" TO DETECT AND REMOVE MINES. MILITARY CIVIL
AFFAIRS PERSONNEL LIKELY WOULD ACCOMPANY THESE TEAMS TO
ASSIST WITH TECHNICAL LIAISON WITH THE GOR, THE EMBASSY,
AND UNAMIR (E.G., SETTING UP PRINTING FACILITIES,
OUTFITTING A TRAINING SITE). EMBASSY IS ENCOURAGED TO
COMMUNICATE WITH CINCEUR TO ESTABLISH CONTACT ON THIS
SUBJECT AND BEGIN DIRECT COORDINATION.
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6. IN ADDITION, THE GOR SHOULD KN THAT U.S. LAW
REQUIRES THAT COUNTRIES RECEIVING U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE
PROVIDE ASSURANCES REGARDING THE END-USE, SECURITY, AND
RETRANSFER OF ANY DEFENSE ARTICLES, RELATED TRAINING, OR
OTHER DEFENSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE USG.
7.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOW MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST OPPORTUNE
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TIME FOR A DEMARCHE ON THIS SUBJECT. HOWEVE DEPARTMENT
WISHES TO INFORM POST OF THIS DEVELOPING INITIATIVE AND
ENCOURAGE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICULARLY ON TIMING' IN
LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS. ONCE THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION
SUBSIDES, POST UNDER ITS DISCRETION SHOULD DEMARCHE THE
GOR AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL TO DETERMINE THEIR ATTITUDE
TOWARDS SUCH PROGRAMS. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL,
IT WILL ALSO PROBABLY BE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE RPF ON
BOARD AS WELL. IF THE GOR AND OTHERS ARE RECEPTIVE, POST
SHOULD INFORM THEM THAT IN ORDER FOR THE U.S. TO PROCEED,
WE NEED A REQUEST FROM THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT WHICH ASKS
FOR A SURVEY BY AN ASSESSMENT TEAM. AFTER CONTACTING THE
RWANDAN GOVERNMENT, POST SHOULD NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT, SO
THAT WE MAY INFORM THE UN SECRETARIAT THROUGH USUN, BEFORE
POST CONSULTS WITH UNAMIR REGARDING USG INTENTIONS.
A RESPONSE (SLUGGED FOR PM/ISP, AF/RA, AND AF/C IN STATE
AS WELL AS OSD/HRA AT DOD) SHOULD BE SENT BY APRIL 8 IF AT
ALL POSSIBLE TO ENABLE US TO BEGIN A PROGRAM FOR RWANDA
WITHIN FY94.
TALKING POINTS
8.
FOLLOWING ARE TALKING POINTS FOR REQUESTED DEMARCHE
A-- USG WOULD LIKE TO AID THE GOR IN EVALUATING RWANDA'S
LANDMINE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO DO SO, AN ASSESSMENT TEAM,
LIKELY COMPOSED OF U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL, COULD CONDUCT
SURVEY OF THE MINE SITUATION IN RWANDA.
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STATE 062321 101825Z
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B-- BEFORE A DEMINING ASSESSMENT PROGRAM CAN BE PREPARED,
WE MUST HAVE A REQUEST FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE FROM THE
RWANDAN GOVERNMENT WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HOW
LANDMINES IMPEDE NATIONAL INTERESTS (FOR EXAMPLE:
ATION-BUILDING, INTERNAL DISPLACEMENTS, ETC.).
C-- IN THIS REGARD, WE WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOUR
GOVERNMENT THAT U.S. LAW REQUIRES US TO OBTAIN ASSURANCES
REGARDING THE END-USE, SECURITY, AND RETRANSFER OF ANY
DEFENSE ARTICLES, RELATED TRAINING, OR OTHER DEFENSE
ERVICES RECEIVED FROM THE USG, WHEN SUCH ARE PROVIDED
PURSUANT TO U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
D-- DUE TO THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THIS
PROGRAM WORLD-WIDE AND THE DEMANDS FOR TOE RESOURCES, WE
MUST HAVE A RESPONSE FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT NO LATER THAN
APRIL 8 TO PERMIT THE NECESSARY PLANING AND ARRANGEMENTS
TO BE MADE. TALBOTT
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