LOBBYING FOR RWANDAN SUPPORT AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000586 SIPDIS USUN FOR AF SENIOR ADVISOR AMB GERALD SCOTT DEPT FOR AF/C MARLAINA CASEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 TAGS: PREL UN RW SUBJECT: LOBBYING FOR RWANDAN SUPPORT AT UNGA Classified By: Ambassador W. Stuart Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador and Emboffs raised with Rwandan Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali and her Americas Director our interest in working closely with Rwanda on UNGA issues. Museminali welcomed our approach and noted that the Government of Rwanda (GOR) often follows the African Union (AU) consensus in international fora, especially when Rwanda does not have independent information about an issue. Rwanda now chairs the East African Community and is a leading troop contributor to AU and UN peacekeeping missions. It is a strong advocate of AU and sub-regional cohesion. At the same time, Museminali added, when the GOR knows that close partners such as the United States hold views that differ from the AU, and when it sees those views have merit, then it looks for ways to be helpful. ¶2. (C) As noted in septels, during a September 18 meeting with the Ambassador, Museminali said the GOR often lacked substantive knowledge of issues important to the United States. She welcomed information-sharing by U.S. diplomats in New York and Kigali and also expressed thanks for key extracts from the Department publication, "Voting Practices in the United Nations 2008," which the Ambassador left with her. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We look forward to working closely with Rwanda during this session. The best way to move the GOR on some issues may be a combination of an argument on the merits and proof there is no AU consensus against the U.S. position. END COMMENT. SYMINGTON