Citation
Mpungwe said Monday's negotiations are aimed at ironing out deep-rooted ethnic differences between the two sides before signing a peace accord, whose implementation is scheduled to start in January 1993.
He said talks would centre on the establishment of the rule of law in Rwanda based on national unity, democracy and respect of human rights.
War has been raging in Rwanda since October 1990 when the mainly Tutsi RPF rebels invaded the country from Uganda in a bid to topple the 19-year-old Hutu-dominated government of President Juvenal Habyarimana.
Ethnic animosity has characterised the central African country's history since 1959 when the minority Hutus staged an uprising against the Tutsis, the feudal rulers, in which at least 100,000 people were killed and thousands more were forced to flee and live as refugees in neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, Salim has appointed Major General Doya Opalage of Nigeria commander of the Neutral Military Observer Group (NMOG) in Rwanda, Mpungwe said.
The Rwanda government's negotiators in Arusha will be led by its foreign minister Boniface Ngulizira.
The talks will be chaired by Diria and representatives will attend from Uganda, Zaire, Burundi, the United States, France and Belgium.
Negotiations will last 10 days and will lead to a series of meetings expected to conclude with the signing of a peace accord in three months' time.
hb/jnm/bm AFP AFP SEQN-0154
