Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KIGALI138
2007-02-11 13:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

RWANDA: AFRICA COMMAND, UNSC RESOLUTION 1737 ON

Tags:  PREL KNNP RW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0138 0421318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111318Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3749
UNCLAS KIGALI 000138 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA: AFRICA COMMAND, UNSC RESOLUTION 1737 ON
IRAN

REF: A. STATE 14457


B. STATE 14071

UNCLAS KIGALI 000138

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA: AFRICA COMMAND, UNSC RESOLUTION 1737 ON
IRAN

REF: A. STATE 14457


B. STATE 14071


1. (SBU) On February 8, Mission presented talking points on
the new Africa Command, and on UN Security Council Resolution
1737, to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for IO and the
Americas Ben Rutsinga. Rutsinga welcomed the announcement of
the Africa Command. He commented that, given Rwanda's
ongoing ACOTA training program and other mil-mil support, the
prospect of a command focused exclusively on Africa would
likely mean even greater cooperation and interaction with
American military personnel. With counter-terrorism a
concern in east Africa, he assumed that the new Africa
command would offer useful support for concerned governments.


2. (SBU) On UNSC Resolution 1737 concerning Iran's nuclear
program, he noted that Rwanda had no real ties with Iran. No
Iranian ambassador had been accredited to Kigali (including
the Iranian ambassador in Kampala),and there were no real
economic or cultural links. "An odd student or two may have
studied in Iran's islamic universities," he said, but no
more. Iran lobbied Rwanda at the UN, he said, "and that is
the extent of their influence." On that basis, there was
little for Rwanda to keep an eye on, he said, regarding
commercial ties and requests for credit. They simply didn't
exist. Rutsinga endorsed the concept of an international
community working together to prevent the spread of nuclear
weapons, and he said that any irresponsible government
seeking such weapons "should be stopped."
ARIETTI