KOUCHNER VISIT TO KIGALI: GREAT ATMOSPHERICS, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000075 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL RW SUBJECT: KOUCHNER VISIT TO KIGALI: GREAT ATMOSPHERICS, BUT HARD WORK REMAINS Classified By: Ambassador Michael R. Arietti, reason 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) Summary. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Kigali for four hours on January 26, sandwiched between stops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso. Kouchner visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial, and had talks with President Kagame, including a joint appearance before the press. Kouchner impressed his Rwandan interlocutors with his strong personal commitment to resolving outstanding issues between the two governments. A Rwandan technical team left for Paris the next day to explore avenues for the restoration of relations. However, Rwandan officials continue to insist that the nine arrest warrants issued by a French judge against senior Rwandan officials be quashed, while France contends that the judicial process cannot be influenced by the executive. No easy solution appears in view if each side sticks to its initial position. End summary. ¶2. (C) During his four-hour visit on January 24, Kouchner greatly impressed Rwandan government officials with his strong personal commitment to resolving outstanding issues between the two governments (principally, from the Rwandan side, the continuing existence of French arrest warrants for nine Rwandans, most of them senior members of the present government, for their alleged involvement in the downing of the President Habyarimana jet in April of 1994, the event that touched off the Rwandan genocide). Foreign Ministry contacts tell us that Kouchner's obvious emotion at the genocide memorial (his third visit, the first two on private trips to Rwanda) was particularly gratifying for the Rwandans, as were his repeated statements of his great affection for Rwanda and great respect for Rwandan efforts to recover from the genocide. Nevertheless, say our contacts, Kouchner was at pains at all times to indicate that his personal opinions had to be distinguished from the official position of France in regard to resumption of diplomatic ties. ¶3. (C) Kouchner's comments during his press appearance with President Kagame, to the effect that France had committed a "political error" in misjudging events at the time of the genocide (while careful to say that the French military bore no responsibility for what occurred) received prominent and appreciative coverage locally. ¶4. (C) The day following the visit, a "technical team" of Rwandan officials, including Great Lakes Envoy Ambassador Richard Sezibera, Foreign Ministry Secretary General Amandin Rugira, and National Security External Affairs Director General Joseph Nsabamwita left for Paris. Their principal focus, the Rwandans tell us, will be the nine arrest warrants issued by Judge Brugiuere in the fall of 2006. "This is now the tough issue," said one. "The will is there on the part of the French government," he continued, but progress had to be made on the warrants. ¶5. (C) Comment. Kouchner struck just the right note with the Rwandans, careful not to promise too much, but making clear his own firm commitment to resolving the diplomatic impasse. However, Rwandan government insistence that the nine warrants be quashed does not leave much room for maneuver, should the French government continue to assert that its judicial process cannot be influenced by the executive branch. We leave evaluation of the French position to our colleagues in Paris, but no easy solution seems in sight if each side sticks to its position. End comment. ARIETTI