EU ON FORCED RETURN OF RWANDAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002344

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/AFR; AF/C; EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2015
TAGS: PREF RW BY EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU ON FORCED RETURN OF RWANDAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

REF: (A) STATE (B) BRUSSELS 2091

Classified By: PRMOFF MARC J. MEZNAR. REASONS 1/4 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) PRMOff raised reftel points with DG Development
Burundi/Rwanda desk officer Dietmar Krissler and EU Council
Secretariat General officer for Central Africa Peter Clausen.

SIPDIS



2. (C) Krissler said that during Commissioner Louis Michel's
meeting with Rwandan President Kagame on June 1 and a
subsequent telephone conversation with Burundian President
Ndayizeye, he expressed the EU's concern over the developing
situation regarding the Rwandan asylum seekers in Burundi.
Michel appealed for both countries to cooperate with the
UNHCR and to respect international humanitarian law.
According to Krissler, President Kagame said that the flight
of the Rwandans was an obstacle to national reconciliation;
rumors had provoked their departure. Rwanda's desire for
their return coincided with Burundi,s objective to get them
out.


3. (C) The EU dispatched its Special Envoy for the Great
Lakes Aldo Ajello to Burundi on June 15 to assess the
situation. Despite the forced expulsions, the EU is
reluctant to apply pressure on either government.
Commissioner Michel is reportedly sympathetic to Rwanda's
plight. Furthermore, the holding of democratic elections in
Burundi is a high priority for the EU and the refugee dynamic
was seen as a potentially destabilizing factor. Krissler
also said that the possibility of tension in the region is
very high with the scheduled end of the transitional
government in the DRC on June 30.


4. (C) At this point, there does not seem much willingness on
the part of either the EC or the Member States to issue a
strong statement, similar to the one made by the U.S., or to
take punitive measures against either Rwanda or Burundi.

SCHNABEL
.