PRESS CONFERENCE BY CANADA

21 November 1996

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY CANADA

19961121 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

At a Headquarters press conference yesterday afternoon, the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Robert Fowler, and Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister, Gordon Smith, addressed correspondents about a series of meetings being held with parties interested in the proposed multinational force for eastern Zaire.

Mr. Smith said that governments were now establishing the political context for the military planners, who were scheduled to meet in Stuttgart, Germany, later this week to discuss the multinational force. They were also actively discussing the assistance requested by the Government of Rwanda as a result of the return of several hundred thousand refugees. A meeting would be held on Saturday in Geneva, chaired by Canada, to discuss the humanitarian requirements of Rwanda in more detail.

The military situation for the multinational force on the Rwandan side of the border was simplest, he continued. There was a consensus that an airhead -- a forward base for aircraft -- would have to be established in Rwanda for the delivery of supplies. Also, military forces would play a role in providing disaster relief. The Government of Rwanda had made clear that they did not want international military activities conducted on its territory. So, members of the multinational force would play a role in transport, the establishment of infrastructure for humanitarian assistance, and related matters.

Military planners needed to develop options, he continued. Those options could begin at "zero"; in other words, assuming that no military forces were needed for humanitarian relief operations. He was not a military planner, but he assumed that, in certain contexts, convoys might not require soldiers. At the other end, what might be needed was a scaled-down version of the operational plan originally designed by Lieutenant-General Maurice Baril. Such a military-humanitarian operation would focus its efforts on Bukavu and areas to the north, where the refugees were concentrated.

There were real differences of views regarding what was needed in eastern Zaire, he said. The Rwandan Government, for its part, had stated clearly, while addressing the Security Council last Friday, that a multinational force was not required. But, it was clear that the cooperation of the Rwandan Government would be required for any military activity that used Rwanda as a base for operations in eastern Zaire. Almost all other countries, including Zaire, believed that military force was still required for the mission. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

had stated that there were significant numbers of refugees that could not be reached by humanitarian agencies. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had not been able to reach isolated people in need of humanitarian assistance.

The original Security Council mandate -- the delivery of humanitarian assistance facilitating the voluntary return of refugees -- must be the focus of any eventual mission, he continued. There was no question of disarming intimidators or making arrests. The multinational force would recognize the sovereignty of Zaire, but would have to cooperate with those exercising authority and control in the area. The objective was definitely not to interfere with internal questions being worked out by countries in the region. Meanwhile, military planning continued. The operation was not on hold. The planners were merely trying to find facts in order to sort out the options.

To a question on the role of African governments in the multinational force, Mr. Smith said that Africans were essential to both the political and military aspects of an operation. The United States would also have to play a role. In planning for the military meeting in Stuttgart, it had been made clear that all States that wanted to take part would be welcome. Also, a large group of international donors and non-governmental organizations would be at the meeting in Geneva.

If there was a need for humanitarian assistance, and if military force was still needed to provide security to United Nations agencies and to others delivering vital aid, the international community would be there, he added. If the international community still wanted Canada to provide political, military and diplomatic leadership, they were ready.

A correspondent said that the Foreign Minister of Germany, Klaus Kinkel, had said that many original members of the proposed multinational force were saying that the force was no longer necessary. Was there some disarray or confusion regarding the international mission? he asked. Mr. Smith responded that there were different perceptions as to what was needed and where. Clearly, the overall needs had diminished, but needs remained. The United States had announced that they would reduce the number of forces they would send to the region. They had also expressed doubts regarding operations in Zaire itself.

A correspondent said that last week military planners had spoken of a multinational force composed of 10,000 to 12,000 troops. How many were needed now that the situation on the ground had changed? he asked. There would be a lesser number, Mr. Smith said, but the details would be determined in Stuttgart.

Could a multinational force get on the ground without the participation of the United States? a correspondent asked. Mr. Smith responded that it was possible, depending on who else would participate.

Canada Press Conference - 3 - 21 November 1996

To a question on Zairian Government opposition to the multinational force, Mr. Smith said that Zaire's Government had called for the international community to move -- both on refugees and on behalf of displaced Zairians. They had not specified any restrictions or limits, though they had made clear that, as Zaire was sovereign territory, the multinational force must deal with Zaire's Government.

Mr. Fowler then reminded correspondents that the representative of Zaire had told the Security Council that his Government might find the participation of certain countries in the multinational force unacceptable.

To a question on the credibility of the Canadian Army, in light of events involving Canadian soldiers in Somalia, Mr. Smith responded that the Canadian Army was ready to play whatever role was necessary in Zaire. The events in Somalia had been an aberration. He had total confidence in the Canadian Army.

A correspondent noted that Sylvana Foa, Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, had said that between 100,000 to 300,000 more refugees were now moving towards Goma from Bukavu. Would they be back across the Rwanda border before the force arrived? he asked. "That's a real possibility", Mr. Smith said. He hoped that they would soon get straight the facts on the ground. If the multinational force were to deploy in eastern Zaire, they would have to work with the people in control. But that did not mean that the international community was recognizing de jure control of eastern Zaire. They would recognize Zairian authority.

Non-governmental organizations had stated that they were in danger in the region, a correspondent said. Had the announcement of the multinational force pushed the refugees back to Rwanda? Mr.Smith answered that the UNHCR was saying that there was a problem of security and that they would like a military presence. The ICRC said that they did not know whether or not there was a problem. What made the return of refugees possible was that the intimidators had left the camps. The imminent arrival of the force had, perhaps, played a role, as had the rebels in eastern Zaire and, perhaps, elements of the Rwandan army that helped liberate the area. All of those factors had played together. But all concerned thought that the process had begun with the call for a multinational force by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

* *** *