RWANDA'S UN PERMREP ASKS FOR HELP IN ARRESTING

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000791 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC ZF RW CG SUBJECT: RWANDA'S UN PERMREP ASKS FOR HELP IN ARRESTING EXPATRIATE FDLR LEADERS; VOWS TO SUPPORT U.S. DURING UNGA ¶1. (SBU) In an introductory meeting with Ambassador Rice on August 13, new Rwandan PermRep Gasana asked for assistance in holding accountable FDLR rebel leaders who continue to support the FDLR from Europe and North America. Ambassador Rice stressed the need for Rwanda to supply solid evidence so that U.S. authorities could sanction or take other appropriate action against FDLR leaders or supporters in the U.S. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Rice congratulated Rwanda on the appointment of General Nyambumba as Force Commander for the African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),the first Rwandan appointed as a UN force commander. Gasana reiterated Rwanda's commitment to international peacekeeping and also requested U.S. assistance to ensure UNAMID was fully equipped. He stressed the need for the international community to supply authorized military helicopters for UNAMID. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Gasana said the meeting between DRC President Kabila and Rwandan President Kagame on August 6 went well. He was encouraged by the increased rapprochement between the DRC and Rwanda, as evidenced by a joint methane gas retrieval project the two countries are undertaking to exploit the methane deposits of Lake Kivu. ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Rice and Ambassador Gasana agreed that an UNGA resolution on the Right to Protect (R2P) could be counter-productive at this time (Rwanda is currently co-chair of the "Friends of R2P"). Gasana said Rwanda preferred to have the records of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda archived domestically, and not in The Hague. In response to Ambassador Rice's request for greater bilateral cooperation on UNGA issues, Gasana vowed to support the U.S. "in any way possible." RICE