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CONFIDENTIAL
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FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI NIACT IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8038
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY LONDON
INFO LOG-00
EUR-01
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CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 15719
NIACT FOR KIGALI HOLD UNTIL 0800 JUNE 6
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, RW, FR, US
SUBJECT: DAS DAVIDOW MEETS RWANDAN REBEL REPRESENTATIVES
1.
CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY. AF/DAS JEFFREY DAVIDOW MET JUNE 5 WITH
RWANDAN PATRIOTIC FRONT (RPF) REPRESENTATIVES IN
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ADVANCE OF THEIR TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA
REPRESENTATIVES IN PARIS, NOW SCHEDULED TO BEGIN JUNE
6. THE RPF, EXPRESSING CONSIDERABLE DISTRUST IN
PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA, BLAMED NEW FIGHTING IN RWANDA ON
THE GOVERNMENT BUT SAID THE TALKS SHOULD NEVERTHELESS
CONTINUE. THE RPF SAID IT WANTS A CEASEFIRE LINE
ESTABLISHED AND MONITORED BUT WAS LESS SPECIFIC ON ITS
POSITIONS ON OTHER AGENDA ITEMS SUCH AS THE ROLE OF
MEDIATORS IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. DAVIDOW URGED
ENDING POLITICAL RHETORIC, ACHIEVING SOME AGREEMENT IN
THE TALKS, AND CONSIDERING FRENCH MEDIATION. END
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: FRANK H PEREZ
DATE/CASE ID: 16 JUN 2006 200600892
UNCLASSIFIED
SUMMARY.
UNCLASSIFIED
3. DAS DAVIDOW MET JUNE 5 WITH THREE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE RPF: PASTEUR BIZIMUNGU, PATRICK MAZIMHAKA, AND
FRANK MUGAMBAGE. THE MEETING PRECEEDS RPF TALKS WITH
THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA (GOR) THAT WERE POSTPONED TO
JUNE 6 BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED ARRIVAL OF THE GOR
FOREIGN MINISTER WHO WAS CAUGHT IN A AIRLINES STRIKE IN
DAKAR. ALSO PRESENT WERE POLOFF REED FENDRICK AND
DCM/KIGALI JOYCE LEADER.
FRAMEWORK FOR TALKS
4. MAZIMHAKA WELCOMED THE U.S. INTEREST IN THE
FORTHCOMING TALKS BUT SAID THE RPF IS IN PARIS FOR
DIRECT TALKS WITH THE GOR TO ESTABLISH AN AGENDA FOR
TALKS, WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF ANY OTHER PARTIES, AS
HAD BEEN AGREED WITH THE GOR IN KAMPALA MAY 24. HE
SAID THIS KAMPALA FRAMEWORK SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH
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THE FRAMEWORK OF FRENCH MEDIATION, AS HE HAD EXPLAINED
TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID THAT
THE USG WOULD BE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE OPENING ROUND OF
THE TALKS.
NEW ATTACKS IN RWANDA
5. MAZIMHAKA SAID THAT THE RPF BELIEVES IN A POLITICAL
RATHER THAN A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE FIGHTING IN
RWANDA. HE CLAIMED THE RPF DID NOT/NOT ATTACK RWANDA'S
NORTHERN TOWN BYUMEA AND THAT CAPTURE OF BYUMBA WAS NOT
AN RPF OBJECTIVE. INSTEAD OF AN ESCALATION OF THE
FIGHTING, HE ARGUED THAT BYUMBA HAD BEEN BESEIGED FOR
SOME TIME AND THAT TODAY'S EVENTS WERE A RESULT OF THE
GOVERNMENT FORCES EVACUATING THE TOWN. HE SAID THE
PRESIDENT WOULD DO ANYTHING TO DERAIL THE NEGOTIATIONS,
JUDGING BY HIS RECENT COMMENTS (IN HIS SPEECH MAY 30 IN
GIKONGORO).
6. AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW SAID THAT THE ATTACKS IN BYUMBA,
REGARDLESS OF WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY THEY WERE,
THREATENED THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. IT STRENGTHENS THE
ARGUMENT OF THOSE IN RWANDA WHO SAY THE RPF IS NOT TO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
BE TRUSTED AND THAT NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD NOT TAKE
PLACE. HE APPEALED TO THE RPF TO ENHANCE THE
CREDIBILITY OF THE GOR NEGOTIATING TEAM BY MAKING A
PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THE RPF HAD PULLED OUT OF BYUMBA,
WITHOUT ASSERTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. BOTH
SIDES, THE U.S. BELIEVES, HAVE EMBARKED ON THE TALKS
WITH HOPE AND SKEPTICISM. BOTH SIDES MUST GET BEYOND
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RHETORIC IN ORDER FOR THE TALKS TO PROCEED.
OBJECTIVES FOR TALKS
7. ASKED ABOUT RPF OBJECTIVES FOR THE WEEKEND'S TALKS,
MAZIMHAKA REVIEWED THE AGENDA SET IN KAMPALA. HE
STRESSED THE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE THE CEASEFIRE CALLED
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UNCLASSIFIED
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8039
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY LONDON
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 PARIS 15719
NIACT FOR KIGALI HOLD UNTIL 0800 JUNE 6
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, RW, FR, US
SUBJECT: DAS DAVIDOW MEETS RWANDAN REBEL REPRESENTATIVES
FOR IN THE NSELE ACCORD AND TO DETERMINE WHY IT HAD
FAILED AND WHAT MECHANISM COULD WORK NOW. HE NOTED
THAT HAVING NEW PARTIES IN THE GOVERNMENT CHANGED THE
NEGOTIATING DYNAMIC AND INTIMATED THAT NOTHING, NOT
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BYUMBA, GESENYI, RUHENGERI, NOR KIBILIRA (REFERENCES TO
RECENT TROUBLE SPOTS IN RWANDA) SHOULD STAND IN THE WAY
OF THE TALKS.
CEASEFIRE
9. MAZIMPAHAKA SAID THE RPF IS PREPARED FOR A
CEASEFIRE BUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO GIVE
GROUND IN ORDER FOR AGREEMENT TO BE REACHED. HE SAID
THE RPF IS NOT ASKING FOR THE GOR TO ADMIT THAT THE RPF
IS PRESENT IN RWANDA. INSTEAD THE ISSUE IS HOW TO HAVE
AN OBSERVABLE CEASEFIRE. HE SAID THE RPF IS WILLING TO
HAVE A CEASEFIRE LINE BETWEEN THE TWO ARMIES ALONG
WHICH OBSERVERS CAN BE PLACED.
10. AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW SUGGESTED CONSIDERING A ZONE
INSTEAD OF A LINE THAT WOULD BE DEVOID OF ARMED MEN.
MAZIMHAKA SAID THAT A 5-KM ZONE MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE BUT
THAT THE RPF WOULD NOT CEDE ANY TERRITORY OR MOVE BACK
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUCH A ZONE. A CEASEFIRE IS NOT
THE END OF THE WAR, HE NOTED, AND ASKED WHERE THE RPF
FIGHTERS SHOULD GO, ANYWAY, BACK TO ZAIRE OR BURUNDI?
POLITICAL GUARANTEES
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
11. AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW ASKED WHETHER THE RPF BELIEVED
THAT THE POLITICAL OPENING OFFERED IT OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN RWANDA AS A
POLITICAL PARTY. BIZIMUNGU REPLIED THAT THE RPF WOULD
BE WILLING TO ENTER THE POLITICAL SYSTEM BUT IT COULD
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NOT BE EXPECTED TO LAY DOWN ARMS AND GO TO KIGALI.
GUARANTEES WOULD BE NECESSARY. THE INSTITUTIONS AND
MECHANISMS KEEPING THE PRESIDENT IN POWER WOULD HAVE TO
BE DISMANTLED AND ALL INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY WOULD
HAVE TO BE DEMOCRATIZED. HE SAID AN OVERHAUL OF THE
SYSTEM WOULD INCLUDE REPLACING APPOINTED TERRITORIAL
OFFICIALS WIH ELECTED OFFICIALS, ELIMINATING
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS OF JUDGES, AND ENDING
MILITARY OPPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE. HE NOTED THAT THESE
CHANGES, AND CHANGES IN THE POWERS OF THE PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE PRESIDENT, WOULD REQUIRE CHANGES IN THE
CONSTITUTION.
12. WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE RPF THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT, THE REPRESENTATIVES
SIDESTEPED THE ISSUE. WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE INTERIM
GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE, TWO REPRESENTATIVES GAVE
CONTRADICTORY REPLIES. MAZIMHAKA SAID IT WOULD DEPEND
ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INTERIM GOVENMENT AND ITS
ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PROGRAM. BIZIMUNGU IMPLIED
THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT PROGRAM SHOULD HAVE RPF
CONSENT: THE TRANSITION GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
BROADEASED AND HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF ALL PARTIES, EVEN
THOSE NOT INCLUDED IN IT. THE RPF ADDED THAT IT DOES
NOT TAKE THE PROPOSED ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY. ELECTIONS,
MAZIMHAKA SAID, SHOULD BE THE FINAL STAGE IN
LEGITIMIZING A NEW POLITICAL PROCESS.
13. DAS DAVIDOW ASKED WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY
CONSIDERATION OF DEVELOPING PARALLEL TRANSITION
STRUCTURES SIMILAR TO THOSE DEVELOPED IN ANGOLA. HE
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DESCRIBED THE JOINT POLITICAL-MILITARY COMMISSION THAT
INCLUDES THE MPLA AND UNITA AS WELL AS THREE
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS. HE EXPLAINED THE COMMISSION
DOES NOT/NOT REPLACE GOVERNING MPLA STRUCTURES, BUT IT
MONITORS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CEASEFIRE AND THE
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ACTION AF-01
PARIS 15719 03 OF 03 051907Z
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3B36A1 051908Z /38
0 051853Z JUN 92 ZFF4
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI NIACT IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8040
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY LONDON
INFO LOG-00
EUR-01
NSAE-00
SS-01
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 PARIS 15719
NIACT FOR KIGALI HOLD UNTIL 0800 JUNE 6
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, RW, FR, US
SUBJECT: DAS DAVIDOW MEETS RWANDAN REBEL REPRESENTATIVES
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
POLITICAL TRANSITION, AND MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT
DEMOBILIZATION, INTEGRATION OF FORCES, AND PUBLIC
SECURITY. THE RPF SAID THE IDEA SOUNDED SIMILAR TO ONE
IT WAS CONSIDERING PUTTING FORWARD.
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SEEK SUCCESS
14. DAVIDOW URGED THE RPF TO LOOK FOR AREAS OF
AGREEMENT IN THIS WEEKEND'S TALKS SO THE PROCESS CAN
GAIN MOMENTUM AND COMMITMENT FROM THE NEGOTIATORS TO
THE PROCESS. HE SUGGESTED A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
WHEREIN BOTH SIDES WOULD AGREE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE
NEED FOR A CEASEFIRE AND A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT LEADING
TO DEMOCRACY AND FULL INTEGRATION OF THE COUNTRY. HE
SAID ANOTHER IMPORTANT OUTCOME WOULD BE AGREEMENT ON
THE STRUCTURE OF THE TALKS. AN AGENDA PHRASED IN
NEUTRAL LANGUAGE WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
MEDIATION
15. AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW ENCOURAGED THE RPF NOT TO
DISMISS THE IDEA OF HAVING FRENCH MEDIATORS OR
FACILITATORS IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. HE SAID THE
NEGOTIATOR DID NOT NEED TO BE IMPARTIAL, JUST
POWERFUL. HE NOTED THAT THE FRENCH, BECAUSE OF THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT, WOULD HAVE LEVERAGE ON
HIM THAT OTHER POTENTIAL MEDIATORS MIGHT NOT. FRANCE
MIGHT ALSO BE BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE, OR MOBILIZE, THE
RESOURCES NEEDED ONCE A SETTLEMENT WAS IN PLACE. HE
MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE USG WAS NOT LOOKING FOR AND
WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE MEDIATOR ROLE, THOUGH WE WOULD
REMAIN WILLING TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DURING
NEGOTIATIONS.
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THE
RPF
WAS
NON-COMMITTAL ABOUT ITS POSITION ON
16.
THE FRENCH AS MEDIATORS. BIZIMUNGU, HOWEVER, WAS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
CLEAR: IF THE MEDIATOR USES ITS RESOURCES AGAINST ONE
OF THE SIDES, THEN IT CAN NO LONGER BE A MEDIATOR.
THEREFORE, HE CONCLUDED, A COMBINATION OF MEDIATORS
MIGHT BE BEST.
COMMENT
17. ALTHOUGH THE RPF REITERATED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE
FORTHCOMING TALKS AND TO THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS, THE
GAP BETWEEN ITS POSITIONS AND THOSE LIKELY TO BE PUT
FORWARD BY THE GOVERNMENT SUGGEST SUCCESSES, IF THERE
ARE ANY, WILL BE MINIMAL. NEVERTHELESS, THE RPF SEEMS
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARIS TALKS OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY
THAT SHOULD NOT BE FRITTERED AWAY, AND MAY, THEREFORE,
BE WILLING TO COME TO AGREEMENT ON SOME POINTS - E.G. A
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES, A NON-CONTROVERSIALLY STATED
AGENDA, ETC. TO GET THE PROCESS MOVING.
18.
DAS DAVIDOW HAS CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.
CURLEY
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