Citation
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994BUJUMB01025
PAGE 01
ACTION AF-01
Page: 1 (g7()
RELEASED IN FULL
Channel: n/a
BUJUMB 01025 01 OF 02 260627Z
OASY-00
CIAE-00 C-01
AID-01 AMAD-Ol A-01
H-01
OIG0-01
HA-09
EUR-01
EB-01
DS-00
LAB-01
10-16
TEDE-00
INR-00
IMMC-01 INM-02
NEA-01
NSAE-00
NSCE-00
01C-02
M-00
ADS-00
SNP-00
RP-10
P-01
PRS-01
PM-01
PA-01
RPE-01
TRSE-00
T-00
STR-01
SR-00
SP-00
/059W
34B47C 260628Z /38
0 260626Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3175
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ACCRA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KIGALI IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO LOG-00
DODE-00
IML-00
L-01
OMB-01
RNEA-00
PMB-00
BUJUMB 01025 01 OF 02 260627Z
PAGE 02
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
ATO AFRICA IMMEDIATE
USIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0861
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUJUMBURA 01025
DEPT FOR AF/C, DSS/OP, DS/OP/AF, USAID
ACCRA FOR A/S MOOSE
LONDON FOR MCKINLEY
PARIS FOR PERLOW
YAOUNDE FOR DAO
EUCOM FOR J3
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: AMGT, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, PINR, BY
SUBJECT: DAS BUSHNELL MEETING WITH BURUNDI PRIME
Page: 1
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY:
HARRY ELMELONE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Page: 2
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994BUJUMB01025
Channel: n/a
MINISTER ANATOLE KANYENKIKO
REF: BUJUMBURA 1008
1. SUMMARY: DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER
RECONFIRMED TO PRIME MINISTER KANYENKIKO THE U.S.
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN
BURUNDI AND CONCERN FOR THE VIOLENCE STILL PLAGUING THE
COUNTRY. THEY STRESSED THE NEED TO MAKE BETTER USE OF
THE MEDIA TO REASSURE CITIZENS, DISPEL RUMORS AND
ENCOURAGE RECONCILIATION. THE PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSED
APPRECIATION FOR U.S. SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY DURING THE
FORMATION OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT AND REAFFIRMED
BURUNDI'S IRREVERSIBLE COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY. END
SUMMARY.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03
BUJUMB 01025 01 OF 02 260627Z
DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT
2. PRIME MINISTER KANYENKIKO RECEIVED DAS BUSHNELL AND
AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER ACCOMPANIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
LANGE ON MARCH 23. HE EXPRESSED HIS PLEASURE AT THEIR
VISIT AND DECLARED BURUNDI'S IRREVERSIBLE COMMITMENT TO
DEMOCRACY DESPITE THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT DIFFICULTIES. HE
ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR U.S. SUPPORT IN
ESTABLISHING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE
U.S. CONTRIBUTION IN OVERCOMING DISCORD AMONG POLITICAL
PARTIES DURING THE FORMATION OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT.
HE STATED HE SAW EVIDENCE OF THE BEGINNING OF ECONOMIC
IMPROVEMENT AND THAT BURUNDI MUST RECOUP ITS DEMOCRACY
AND GET ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACK ON TRACK. HE SAID
THIS PLAN WOULD REQUIRE THE COURAGE AND WILL OF THE
POPULATION AND ALSO THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
3. DAS BUSHNELL RECOGNIZED THE PM'S PERSONAL COURAGE IN
ACCEPTING A DIFFICULT TASK AND ASSURED HIM THAT THE U.S.,
AS A NEIGHBOR IN THE "GLOBAL VILLAGE," WAS DEEPLY
CONCERNED FOR AND CLOSELY MONITORING BURUNDI'S PROBLEMS.
SHE EXPRESSED U.S. COMMITMENT TO CONSOLIDATION OF
DEMOCRACY IN BURUNDI, BUT SAID THE U.S. DID NOT
UNDERSTAND THE PHENOMENON OF VIOLENCE. SHE ASKED FOR AN
EXPLANATION OF HOW THIS SITUATION CAME TO BE AND WHAT THE
LEADERS WERE DOING TO RESOLVE IT. THE U.S. WANTS TO BE
OF ASSISTANCE BUT MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GRB IS DOING
Page: 2
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Page: 3
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994BUJUMB01025
Channel: n/a
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04
ITSELF FIRST.
BUJUMB 01025 01 OF 02 260627Z
ORIGINS OF VIOLENCE
4. THE PM PROVIDED A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF ETHNIC
ANIMOSITY, AGGRAVATED DURING THE END OF THE MONARCHY
(I.E., UNDER COLONIALISM) AND DESCRIBED FORMER PRESIDENT
BUYOYA'S ATTEMPT TO ENCOURAGE NATIONAL UNITY IN
PREPARATION FOR A DEMOCRACY. HE SAID THE OCTOBER COUP,
WHICH TRIED TO OVERTHROW THE NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF
PRESIDENT NDADAYE, HAD REVERSED BUYOYA'S EFFORTS AND OLD
HATREDS HAD RESURFACED.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01
ACTION AF-01
BUJUMB 01025 02 OF 02 260629Z
OASY-00
CIAE-00 C-01
AID-01 AMAD-01 A-01
H-01
OIG0-01
HA-09
EUR-01
EB-Ol
DS-00
LAB-01
10-16
TEDE-00 INR-00
IMMC-01 INM-02
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 01C-02
NEA-01
M-00
ADS-00
SNP-00
RP-10
P-01
PRS-01
PM-01
PA-01
RPE-01
TRSE-00
T-00
STR-01
SR-00
SP-00
/059W
34B48C 260629Z /38
0 260626Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3176
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ACCRA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KIGALI IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE
INFO LOG-00
DODE-00
IML-00
L-01
OMB-01
RHEA-00
PMB-00
Page: 3
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Page: 4
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994BUJUMB01025
Channel: n/a
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
BUJUMB 01025 02 OF 02 260629Z
PAGE 02
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
ATO AFRICA IMMEDIATE
USIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0862
C ONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 02 BUJUMBURA 01025
DEPT FOR AF/C, DSS/OP, DS/OP/AF, USAID
ACCRA FOR A/S MOOSE
LONDON FOR MCKINLEY
PARIS FOR PERLOW
YAOUNDE FOR DAO
EUCOM FOR J3
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: AMGT, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, PINR, BY
SUBJECT: DAS BUSHNELL MEETING WITH BURUNDI PRIME
MEDIA AS A COUNTERMEASURE
5. DAS BUSHNELL CITED THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH GIVEN THE
EVENING BEFORE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MEDIA COULD BE USED
TO INFORM AND REASSURE CITIZENS AS WELL AS TO DEMONSTRATE
EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE. IT COULD ALSO SERVE TO SHOW THE
GOVERNMENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DEMONSTRATE THAT ITS
LEADERS ARE IN CHARGE AND WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTRY. AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER CITED THE DANGER OF RUMORS
AND GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF HEARING ON RWANDAN RADIO THE NEWS
OF A COUP IN BURUNDI ON MARCH 22. IT PROVED TO BE
COMPLETELY FALSE BUT, RENDER NOTED, SHE HAD HEARD NO
CONFIDENTIAL
BUJUMB 01025 02 OF 02 260629Z
PAGE 03
PUBLIC DENIAL FORM THE GRB. THE MINISTER AGREED AND SAID
HE WAS HOPING TO FORM A QUICK REACT COMMUNICATION TEAM TO
REASSURE AN INSECURE POPULATION. HE ALSO NOTED HOW
UNHELPFUL RWANDAN RADIO IS. RENDER SUGGESTED THAT
BURUNDI MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH RWANDA ON MEDIA MATTERS SO
THAT FUTURE INCIDENTS COULD BE AVOIDED OR CORRECTED. THE
PM STATED THAT RWANDAN RADIO, AS WELL AS THE BEHAVIOR OF
SOME BURUNDIAN LEADERS, WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BUT
AGREED THAT BOTH ACTIONS WERE APPROPRIATE.
Page: 4
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Page: 5
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994BUJUMB01025
Channel: n/a
ACTION TO DISPEL RUMORS
6. RESPONDING TO AN INQUIRY FROM DAS BUSHNELL ABOUT
ON-GOING CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA, THE PM
SAID HE INTENDED TO DISCUSS MUTUAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS
COUNTERPART IN THE NEW RWANDAN GOVERNMENT ONCE FORMED.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT SUCH COOPERATION WAS NECESSARY FOR THE
STABILITY OF DEMOCRACY IN THE SUB-REGION.
ENCOURAGE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
7. BOTH DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER REAFFIRMED
U.S. CONCERN FOR BURUNDI AND THE SUB-REGION. BUSHNELL
STRESSED THAT ETHNIC PROBLEMS CAN ONLY BE EFFECTIVELY
SOLVED BY DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND EXTENDED HER
PERSONAL OFFER OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER.
SHE INFORMED THE PM THAT A NEW AMBASSADOR HAD BEEN NAMED
AND SHOULD ARRIVE SOON.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04
BUJUMB 01025 02 OF 02 260629Z
8. THE PM EXTENDED HIS THANKS FOR U.S. SUPPORT AND FOR
THE VISIT AND EXPRESSED HIS INTENTION TO PROFIT FROM IT
TO MAKE A "NEW START" FOR BURUNDI. HE REITERATED HIS
COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND APPRECIATION FOR U.S.
SUPPORT.
9. COMMENT: BEFORE COMING TO THE MEETING, UNSYG SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE ABDALLAH TOLD BUSHNELL AND RENDER THAT THE
PM HAD TALKED TO HIM ABOUT RESIGNING. WHILE THE PM MADE
NO REFERENCE TO ANY POSSIBLE RESIGNATION, HE CLEARLY
APPRECIATED BEING REASSURED OF U.S. SUPPORT. BUSHNELL
TOLD HIM THAT IF HE EVER GOT DISCOURAGED, HE COULD CALL
HER FOR A PEP TALK. END COMMENT. LANGE
CONFIDENTIAL
« END OF DOCUMENT »
Page: 5
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
