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CONFIDENTIAL
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33B300 240748Z /38
P 2407402 MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6017
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-SAAA// PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 KIGALI 01269
YAOUNDE FOR DAD
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PINR RW
SUBJECT: DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER PUSH
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KIGALI 01269 01 OF 03 240747Z
PUSH FOR TRANSITION TO BEGIN
REF: KIGALI 01218
1.
CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY. DURING A THREE-DAY VISIT TO RWANDA,
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS,
PRUDENCE BUSHNELL, AND AF/C DIRECTOR ARLENE RENDER,
DELIVERED A CLEAR MESSAGE TO RWANDAN OFFICIALS: THE
U.S. NEEDS INDICATION THAT THE PEACE PROCESS IS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY - WILLIAM E LANDFAIR
DATE/CASE ID: 03 MAY 2005 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
MOVING FORWARD IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN U.S. SUPPORT FOR
A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. AS USUAL, THE RWANDANS
WERE LOATHE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
POLITICAL IMPASSE. ALL INTERLOCUTORS STRESSED THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS IN
PLACE PROMPTLY. END SUMMARY.
3. DAS PRUDENCE BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR ARLENE
RENDER, VISITED RWANDA 3/19-23. DURING THEIR VISIT
THEY CALLED PRIME MINISTER AGATHE UWILINGIYIMANA AND
FOREIGN MINISTER ANASTASE GASANA, BOTH KEY PLAYERS IN
THE CURRENT POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY IN
RWANDA, LEADERS OF SEVERAL KEY POLITICAL PARTIES AND
THE RPF. THIS CABLE REPORTS ON THE MEETINGS WITH THE
MINISTERS.
THE MESSAGE
4. IN THESE MEETINGS, DAS BUSHNELL DELIVERED THE
SAME MESSAGE. SHE RECALLED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S UN
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SPEECH ABOUT "SAYING NO" TO PEACEKEEPING, EXPLAINED
THE SKEPTICISM AROUND THE RWANDAN PEACEKEEPING
OPERATION, AND SAID SHE HAD ARGUED THAT RWANDA COULD
BE A SUCCESS STORY, A MODEL. SHE ASKED HOW SHE COULD
CONTINUE TO KEEP U.S. INTEREST IN A RWANDAN PKO IF
THE TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS WERE NOT PUT IN PLACE
BEFORE THE SECURITY COUNCIL MET ON 4/4 TO CONSIDER
RENEWING OR WITHDRAWING THE PEACEKEEPING MANDATE.
SHE ALSO NOTED THAT THE DELAY WAS CAUSING RWANDA TO
LOSE DEVELOPMENT AID MONEY THAT IT MIGHT OTHERWISE
HAVE HAD. SHE URGED RWANDA'S LEADERS TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE BY ACTING TO RESOLVE
THE IMPASSE, TO CHART A TRANSITION TO GLORY RATHER
THAN TO CHAOS.
THE PRIME MINISTER
5. THE PRIME MINISTER, A VOCAL ADVERSARY OF
PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA, TOLD DAS AND AF/C DIRECTOR
THAT THE LISTS OF NAMES PRESENTED BY HER AND THE
PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE (REFTEL) ALLOWED ALL
FACTIONS OF ALL PARTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTED THE
"LAST COMPROMISE." SHE SAID NEITHER THE PRESIDENT
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UNCLASSIFIED
NOR HIS PARTY HAD YET REACTED TO THE ANNOUNCED LISTS
BUT THAT RADIO RTLM, WHICH SHE CALLED "THE RADIO OF
THE PRESIDENT," HAD RAISED QUESTIONS OVER THE
PROPOSED MINISTER OF JUSTICE, A TUTSI. SHE SAID SHE
HOPED TO MEET THE PRESIDENT AFTERNOON OF 3/21.
(COMMENT: THE MEETING, WHICH FINALLY TOOK PLACE ON
3/22, REPORTEDLY WENT POORLY. END COMMENT.) ON THE
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OTHER HAND, THE RPF, THOUGH DISCONTENTED WITH PL
PRESIDENT MUGENZI'S PRESENCE IN THE CABINET AND
UNHAPPY WITH THE PL DEPUTIES LIST, HAD CONSENTED TO A
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY WEDNESDAY, OR ANY OTHER TIME
THIS WEEK.
6. THE PRIME MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RWANDA WAS
LOSING CREDIBILITY WITH EACH DAY'S DELAY IN
INSTALLING TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS AND THAT THIS WAS
AT ODDS WITH ITS POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS A MODEL OF
CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN AFRICA. BUT, SHE CONTINUED,
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FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6018
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-SAAA// PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 KIGALI 01269
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SUBJECT: DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/c DIRECTOR RENDER PUSH
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THE TRANSITION MUST ALLOW FOR CHANGES IN THE
MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTRY. SINCE THE FORMATION OF
THE COALITION GOVERNMENT IN 1992, THE PRESIDENT'S
PARTY, THE MRND, HAS BEEN ABLE TO BLOCK EVERY
GOVERNMENT DECISION WITH WHICH IT DID NOT AGREE. THE
NEW TRANSITION GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE TO TAKE
DECISIONS OF CHANGE, SHE SAID.
7. DAS BUSHNELL MENTIONED THE SECURITY SITUATION,
STRESSING THE ROLE OF LEADERS IN CALMING THE
POPULATION. THE PRIME MINISTER SPOKE OF HER
FRUSTRATION. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROLIFERATION OF
WEAPONS, SAID THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
REPORTS THAT PARTY MILITIA, ABOUT 2,000, HAVE
RECEIVED MILITARY TRAINING, AND SAID INDICATIONS WERE
SHE SAID
THAT DEMONSTRATIONS WERE PLANNED FOR 3/21.
SHE WAS EXAMINING HOW TO CONTROL RADIO RTLM AND KEEP
IT FROM SPREADING DISINFORMATION, BUT THE MINISTER OF
INFORMATION IS "AFRAID" TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHE
NOTED THAT CHEZ LANDO, A RESTAURANT/DISCO BELONGING
TO PL LEADER MINISTER LANDOALD NDASINGWA, WAS
GRENADED FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BY HIS PL OPPONENT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
MUGENZI ON RTLM TO THE EFFECT THAT LANDO WAS A TUTSI
AND THEREFORE WAS RPF. SHE SAID THE PRESIDENT HAD
ASKED IF RADIO MUHABURA WOULD ALSO BE "CONTROLLED."
DAS BUSHNELL SUGGESTED FREEDOMS CARRIED WITH THEM
RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE OBLIGATION TO THINK OF THE
GOOD OF THE PEOPLE.
8. AMBASSADOR RAWSON RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE
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PRO-HUTU CDR PARTY NOT BEING MENTIONED IN THE PM'S
LIST OF DEPUTIES. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID SHE SAW NO
REASON FOR KEEPING THE CDR OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY.
ALREADY THEY HAD SIGNED THE COPY OF THE ETHICS CODE
HELD BY THE MEND, MDR, AND PL PARTIES. SOME PARTIES
THOUGH, NAMELY THE RPF AND THE ISLAMIC DEMOCRATIC
PARTY (PDI), WANT THE CDR TO MAKE A PUBLIC
DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR THE ARUSHA ACCORD, WHICH
THE PARTY HAD EARLIER ESCHEWED. THE PM COMMITTED
HERSELF TO HELPING BRING THE CDR IN IF/IF IT WOULD
MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT. THE AMBASSADOR ALSO ASKED IF
THE PRIME MINISTER MIGHT BE CONVENING THE
GOVERNMENTAL SECURITY COMMITTEE SO AS TO ENSURE CALM
AT THIS CRITICAL TIME. THE PRIME MINISTER UNDERTOOK
TO DO SO.
THE FOREIGN MINISTER
9. FOREIGN MINISTER ANASTASE GASANA THANKED THE U.S.
FOR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, DIPLOMATIC ASSISTANCE IN
ARRIVING AT THE ARUSHA PEACE ACCORD, AND FOR ITS
SUPPORT FOR THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. AFTER
HEARING DAS BUSHNELL OUT, THE MINISTER APPEALED FOR
U.S. HELP AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SMALL GROUP THAT
STILL WANTS A MILITARY SOLUTION INSTEAD OF HAVING THE
TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE. DAS BUSHNELL NOTED
THAT DEMOCRACY REQUIRED DIFFICULT COMPROMISES, AND
STRESSED THAT EACH LEADER MUST ASK WHAT ROLE HE CAN
PLAY TO MAKE THE PROCESS WORK.
10.
WHEN AF/c DIRECTOR RENDER RAISED THE CDR ISSUE,
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THE MINISTER SAID HE HAD DONE WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF
HIM AND HIS MINISTRY. DAS BUSHNELL POINTED TO THIS
AS A CASE IN POINT WHERE HE COULD HELP BRING A
SOLUTION INSTEAD OF SEEING THE PROBLEM AS SOMEONE
ELSE'S. EVENTUALLY HE COMMITTED HIMSELF TO MAKE
APPROPRIATE CONTACTS SO THAT THE CDR COULD SIGN THE
ETHICS CODE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PARTY TO ENTER THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. HE CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE
BETTER TO HAVE THIS PARTY IN RATHER THAN OUT OF THE
POLITICAL PROCESS DURING THE TRANSITION.
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33B34A 240750Z /38
P 240740Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6019
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-SAAA// PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
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CONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 KIGALI 01269
YAOUNDE FOR DAC,
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PINR RW
SUBJECT: DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/c DIRECTOR RENDER PUSH
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KIGALI 01269 03 OF 03 240750Z
COMMENT
11. WHETHER THE DIRECT MESSAGE OF DAS BUSHNELL AD
AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER WILL PENETRATE THE RWANDAN
POLICY-MAKERS' CONSCIOUSNESS IS UNCLEAR. WHILE
RESOLUTION OF THE IMPASSE IS IN THE AIR, NEW GLITCHES
TO INSTALLATION OF THE TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS HAVE
SURPACED THAT COULD DELAY THE PROCESS BEYOND THE NEXT
SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THE UN FORCE FOR
RWANDA.
12. DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER CLEARED THE
SUBSTANCE OF THIS CABLE BEFORE DEPARTING KIGALI.
RAWSON
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