FOREIGN MINISTER ON SPANISH INDICTMENTS AND TRAVEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000237 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR MASS RW SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON SPANISH INDICTMENTS AND TRAVEL BY SENIOR RWANDANS Classified By: CDA Cheryl Sim, reason 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali called in Charge on April 2 to discuss the Spanish indictments and their affect on the ability of senior Rwandan government officials to travel to the U.S. Museminali expressed considerable Government of Rwanda (GOR) unease and asked for a formal written explanation on the inability of Major General Caesar Kayizari (whom she termed a "national hero who stopped the genocide") to travel upon USG invitation to a military program in the United States. Museminali reaffirmed the high importance Rwanda placed on good relations with the U.S., and worried that the Spanish indictments would put bilateral relations "on a lower position" than US relations with Spain. As the Spanish indictments were aimed at "central figures" of the government and military, "this is paralyzing" necessary travel plans, she said. The Spanish indictments were wrong, inaccurate, and based upon communications from extremists bitterly opposed to the GOR. A close reading of the Spanish indictments showed them to be "pseudo-legalistic maneuvers" that hid a clear political agenda to harm the Rwandan government. ¶2. (C) Charge responded that the USG valued "at the highest level" the bilateral relationship -- noting the recent visit by President Bush -- and said that the embassy and the USG government were intensively engaged in reviewing the indictments and working to insure that planned travel by Rwandan officials to the U.S. did not result in embarrassment to either government. Charge briefly explained the extensive review process of USG legal obligations regarding the Spanish indictments and General Kayizari's planned travel, and noted that no legal bar to his travel had been found. A complicated interagency review, imposed at short notice by the issuance of the indictments, had delayed the final processing of the general's travel. Charge noted as well that embassy officers had on several occasions spent considerable time addressing travel plans of senior Rwandans on both the Spanish and French lists of indictees. Many unsubstantiated allegations had been discredited in consultation with colleagues in Washington, she added. Charge noted that a review of the indictments was underway in Washington, and Museminali's comments would he communicated immediately. ¶3. (C) Charge pressed Museminali on what interaction the GOR and the Spanish government have had on the indictments since on numerous occasions, GOR officials told the Embassy that Spain had no intention of actively seeking arrest warrants. Museminali reluctantly admitted that the GOR had not had any official contact with the Spanish government on the indictments, but "unofficially" had been informed (by unnamed sources) that the Spanish would not act on the indictments or seek to issue arrest warrants. Museminali expressed surprise when informed that three senior Rwandans now faced interpol arrest notices -- she appeared to be aware only of the Interpol notice recently issued regarding Chief of Defense Staff General James Kabarebe (FYI: the other warrants stem from the earlier French indictments and are for Chief of Protocol Rose Kabuye and retired General Sam Kaka. QChief of Protocol Rose Kabuye and retired General Sam Kaka. End FYI). Charge noted that the U.S. extradition treaty with Spain imposed certain legal obligations on the USG, particularly upon issuance of interpol arrest notices. ¶4. (C) Comment. Museminali spoke in subdued tones, quietly combative at certain moments and clearly distressed at others. Her comments echo those our DATT has heard at Rwanda Defense Force headquarters -- uncertainly at the exact reason for USG caution on travel to the U.S., and seeking reaffirmation of existing bilateral cooperation. GOR lack of action on the Spanish indictments suggests a misplaced complacency that is coming to an unsettling end for senior Rwandan officials. We are preparing a written explanation for the GOR regarding General Kayizari's travel and will clear the text with Washington. End comment. SIM