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CONFIDENTIAL
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ACTION EUR-01
UNCLASSIFIED
PARIS 13749 01 OF 03 181655Z
INFO LOG-00 AF-01
DOEE-00 EB-01
INR-00 10-16
NSCE-00 01C-02
RP-10 SCT-03
TRSE-00 T-00
RELEASED IN FULL
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H-01
INM-02 TEDE-00
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ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00
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/058W
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485AEE 181657Z /SS
O 181633Z MAY 94
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4929
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY CAIRO
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 13749
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR HA A/S SHATTUCK
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
CONFIDENTIAL
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PARIS 13749 01 OF 03 181655Z
PAGE 02
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, RW, BY, FR
SUBJECT: BUILDING A CASE AGAINST FRENCH POLICY IN
RWANDA: "LIBERATION" ON THE OFFENSIVE
REF: PARIS 13634
1. PARAGRAPHS CLASSIFIED AS MARKED.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ARCHIE M BOLSTER
DATE/CASE ID: 06 MAY 2011 201005065
E264
UNCLASSIFIED
THE MAY 18 EDITION OF "LIBERATION" RAN A
2.
(C)
LENGTHY, ACIDLY CRITICAL ARTICLE ON FRENCH POLICY IN
RWANDA. THE AUTHOR CLEARLY HAD ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND LEAKS FROM AT LEAST ONE
SOURCE THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH FRENCH ACTIVITY SINCE
THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT HARYARIMANA. THIS ARTICLE
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN MEDIA COVERAGE AFTER
ACCOLADES TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE EVACUATION OF
FRENCH NATIONALS FROM RWANDA. IT FOLLOWS ON THE WELL
PUBLICIZED ATTACK BY MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES ON MONDAY
(REFTEL).
3. (C) ALTHOUGH MUCH OF THE MATERIAL COVERED IN THE
ARTICLE (ARMS SALES, MILITARY ADVISORS, AN UNSUCCESSFUL
MILITARY INTERVENTION IN 1993-94, IGNORING HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS, FRICTION WITH BELGIUM, MOBUTU'S ROLE), HAS
BEEN COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG GOF AFRICANISTS AND OUTSIDE
SPECIALISTS, IT HAS NOT BEEN WIDELY KNOWN AMONG THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. WHILE THESE SORTS OF EXPOSES CREATE
SHORT-TERM SCANDALS IN FRANCE, THEY RARELY CAN FORCE A
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REEXAMINATION OF GOF POLICY SINCE THERE IS NO SERIOUS
POLICY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT NOR A WELL-ORGANIZED
AFRICAN AFFAIRS LOBBY. THAT SAID, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT
DURING A ROUND OF CALLS ON VARIOUS RWANDA ISSUES, THE
FIRST TOPIC RAISED BY OUR INTERLOCTORS AT THE QUAI AND
DEFENSE WAS THE "LIBERATION" ARTICLE -- WITH THE
OBSERVATION THAT IT CUT VERY CLOSE TO THE BONE. END
SUMMARY AND COMMENT.
A LEAKED MEMO
4. (U) "LIBERATION" ON MAY 18 RAN 5 PAGES ON EVENTS IN
RWANDA; THE KEY ARTICLE WAS ENTITLED "FRANCE: TRAPPED
BY ITS ACCORDS." THE AUTHOR QUOTES FROM A FOREIGN
MINISTRY MEMO DATED APRIL 29 STATING "SOME MEDIA
(SOURCES) AND ASSOCIATIONS (IN FRANCE) ARE CASTING
BLAME ON FRANCE FOR ITS ROLE IN RWANDA.... IF YOU ARE
ASKED TO COMMENT, YOU SHOULD RESPOND IN THE FOLLOWING
LANGUAGE: FRANCE, SINCE THE START OF THE CRISIS, HAS
MADE AN EFFORT TO AVOID DESTABILIZATION OF (RWANDA).
OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO PREVENT A MILITARY CONFRONTATION
AND TO PRESS FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION."
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
A HIDDEN AGENDA?
5. (U) "LIBERATION" CONCLUDES THAT DESPITE THE
NEUTRAL SOUNDING PHRASES IN THE QUAI DOCUMENT, THE GOF
POLICY HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT THE RWANDA GOVERNMENT AND TO
PREVENT THE RPF FROM ACHIEVING A MILITARY VICTORY. A
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BELGIAN DIPLOMAT (REPORTEDLY REFLECTING COMMONLY HELD
VIEWS IN BRUSSELS) IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT "FRANCE HAS
ALWAYS SUPPORTED HABYARIMANA AND FURNISHED HIM ARMS AND
MILITARY EXPERTS, (BUT) TODAY (FRANCE) WANTS TO PLAY
THE ROLE OF MODERATOR.... AND IS TRYING TO GET THE RPF
TO THE SCAFFOLD." THE AUTHOR ADDS THAT THE GOVERNMENT
OF BELGIUM HOLDS PARIS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RWANDAN
CRISIS.
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ACTION EUR -01
INFO
LOG-00
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PARIS
AF-01
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10-16
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13749
02 OF 03
AID-01
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181656Z
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485AF5 181657Z /38
-
O 181633Z MAY 94
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
UNCLASSIFIED
DODE-00
TEDE-00
NSAE-00
p-at
STR-01
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4930
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY CAIRO
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 PARIS 13749
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR HA A/S SHATTUCK
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
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PARIS 13749 02 OF 03 181656Z
PAGE 02
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, RW, BY, FR
SUBJECT: BUILDING A CASE AGAINST FRENCH POLICY IN
RWANDA: "LIBERATION" ON THE OFFENSIVE
THE BLACK BOX
6. (U) THE ARTICLE CONTINUES WITH A QUOTE FROM RPF
MEMBER JACQUES BIHOZAGARA IN BRUSSELS ASKING FOR THE
GOF TO MAKE PUBLIC THE RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION IN
PARIS OF THE "BLACK BOX" FROM PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA'S
PLANE. (NOTE: THE GOF HAS CONSISTENTLY DENIED TO US
THAT IT HAS CARRIED OUT ANY FORENSIC OR OTHER
EXAMINATION OF THE DOWNED PLANE. BIHOZAGARA DOES NOT
OFFER ANY SUPPORTING COMMENT FOR THIS REQUEST. WE WILL
FOLLOW-UP WITH OUR CONTACTS. END NOTE.)
KEEPING YOUR WORD
7. (U) IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS THAT FRENCH
MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE GOR IS CONTINUING, A FOREIGN
MINISTRY SOURCE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT "IF WE FAILED
TO KEEP OUR WORD (CONCERNING THE 1975 FRANCO-RWANDAN
DEFENSE TREATY), OUR CREDIBILITY VIS-A-VIS OTHER
UNCLASSIFIED
AFRICAN STATES WOULD BE SERIOUSLY HARMED AND WE MIGHT
SEE THESE STATES TURN TOWARD OTHER SOLUTIONS." DEFENSE
MINISTRY PERSONNEL ARE QUOTED AS RESPONDING THAT AID
GIVEN BY FRANCE TO THE GOR WAS INTENDED TO "PREVENT
RWANDA FROM FALLING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF UGANDA, OF
WHICH THE RPF IS A SATELLITE." (COMMENT: THE WORDING
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OF THE ARTICLE IS AMBIGUOUS ABOUT WHETHER MILITARY AID
IS STILL BEING GIVEN OR HAS ENDED. END COMMENT.)
A FRENCH BANK AND EGYPTIAN ARMS
8. (U) THE ARTICLE THEN REVIEWS GOF AID TO RWANDA,
INCLUDING THE WELL-REPORTED DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF
FRENCH PERSONNEL IN COMBAT SITUATIONS IN 1992 AGAINST
THE RPF. IT ALSO REFERS TO AN "AFRICA WATCH" REPORT
FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR WHICH CRITICIZED "CREDIT
LYONNAIS" BANK (WHICH IS PARTIALLY OWNED BY THE GOF AND
UNDER TUTELAGE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE), FOR
PROVIDING USD 6 MILLION TO ENABLE THE GOR TO PURCHASE
ARMS IN EGYPT IN 1992. THE AUTHOR DERIDES THE
"FRANCOPHONE" BASIS OF GOF POLICY, NOTING THAT PERHAPS
10 PERCENT OF THE RWANDAN POPULATION SPEAKS FRENCH.
FOREIGN MINISTER JUPPE IS ALSO CRITICIZED FOR WAITING
UNTIL MAY 16 BEFORE OPENLY MAKING A CRITICAL REFERENCE
TO THE GENOCIDE CARRIED OUT IN GOR-HELD AREAS.
FRENCH INFLUENCE WITH THE GOR
9. (U) THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT ELYSEE COUNSELOR BRUNO
DELAYE SUCCESSFULLY INTERVENED TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE
RWANDA MILITARY LEADERS TO PREVENT A MASSACRE OF TUTSI
POPULATION TRAPPED AT THE MILLE COLLINES HOTEL. A QUAI
SOURCE (WHO IS PERSONALLY DISGUSTED BY FRENCH POLICY
AND THE TRADITION OF NOT SPEAKING OUT), IS QUOTED
SAYING THAT "WHILE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A ONE-TIME EFFORT,
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IT SHOWS THE DEGREE TO WHICH FRANCE STILL HAS INFLUENCE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
WITH THE RWANDA MILITARY."
MOBUTU, FRONT AND CENTER
10. (U) THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES
THAT THE FRENCH HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH ZAIRIAN
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ACTION EUR-01
PARIS 13749 03 OF 03 181656Z
INFO LOG-00 AF-01
DOEE-00 EB-01
INR-00 10-16
NSCE-00 01C-02
RP-10 SCT-03
TRSE-00 T-00
AID-01 CIAE-00 C-01
OASY-00 DODE-00
OIG0-01 HA-09
H-01
INM-02 TEDE-00
LAB-01 L-01
ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00
OMB-01 PA-01
PM-00
PRS-01 P-01
SP-00
SR-00
SS-00
STR-01
SNP-00
USIE-00 RPE-01 PMB-00
/058W
485AF9 181658Z 138
O 181633Z MAY 94
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4931
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY CAIRO
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 PARIS 13749
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR HA A/S SHATTUCK
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PARIS 13749 03 OF 03 181656Z
PAGE 02
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, RW, BY, FR
SUBJECT: BUILDING A CASE AGAINST FRENCH POLICY IN
RWANDA: "LIBERATION" ON THE OFFENSIVE
PRESIDENT MOBUTU (VIA UNOFFICIAL EMISSARY MICHEL
AURILLAC), TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN
MEDIATING THE CONFLICT. THE ARTICLE NOTES THAT "THE
SMALL CITY OF GOMA IN EASTERN ZAIRE HAS NEVER KNOWN
SUCH ACTIVITY, INCLUDING A RECENT DELIVERY OF 40 TONS
OF AMMUNITION WHICH CAME FROM BULGARIA AND WAS UNLOADED
ON MAY FIRST AND SECOND BY RWANDA ARMY TROOPS, WITH THE
COMPLICITY OF ZAIRIAN ARMY OFFICIALS -- DESPITE THE
OPPOSITION OF CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES FROM KIVU WHO FEAR
AN EXTENSION OF THE CONFLICT INTO ZAIRE."
HARRIMAN
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