PRESS CONFERENCE BY RWANDA
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE BY RWANDA
19970203
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Gideon Kayinamura, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, this morning dismissed and categorically denied statements by the Foreign Minister of Zaire accusing Rwanda of involvement in Zaire's internal crisis. Speaking at a press conference at Headquarters, he also warned the international community of the use of mercenaries in eastern Zaire who, along with soldiers of the former Rwandan Government, were fighting side-by-side with the Zairian Army. Their long-term objective was to spread the Zairian conflict to neighbouring countries. He also wished to address recent claims that there were Rwandan refugees in eastern Zaire.
Dismissing the "disinformation crusade by the Zairian Foreign Minister", Mr. Kayinamura said there were many forces fighting in Zaire. Mercenaries were being recruited from all around the world. There was information that they were being financed by a European country through the use of offshore banking. Such recruitment, financing and use of mercenaries ran counter to resolutions of the General Assembly. The mercenaries were being paid handsomely to fight the Zairian rebels. The 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers of the former Rwandan Government in Zaire had been integrated in the Zairian regular army.
Recently, in an informal statement to the Security Council, the Foreign Minister of Zaire had said the leader of the Zairian rebels was neither a Rwandan nor a Tutsi from North or South Kivu, Mr. Kayinamura said. That man was leader of the political coalition known as the Council of Democratic Alliance Forces for the Liberation of Congo. The Foreign Minister had made a similar statement about the leader of the National Resistance Council for Democracy, which was fighting alongside the rebels.
Mr. Kayinamura said the Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Zaire was a force of Zairians, not Rwandans. The Democratic People's Alliance was also an indigenous Zairian movement. However, it had come to be expected that, whenever there was a crisis in Zaire, its Government would look for scapegoats in neighbouring countries.
Citing a statement by a Belgian mercenary, who said Rwandan soldiers had been found inside Zaire, Mr. Kayinamura said there were indeed some 40,000 soldiers of the former Rwandan Government in Zaire, who were fighting alongside Zairian forces.. However, it was worrying and unfortunate that the Zairian Government had supported the statement of a mercenary. The present Government had no forces in Zaire and wanted to see a Zaire at peace.
Mr. Kayinamura then addressed what he called "the politics of refugee numbers". Zaire was claiming that there were more than 1 million Rwandan refugees inside that country. "You all witnessed how many returned", he said. There had been 1.2 million refugees in eastern Zaire. However, Zaire said there were 3 million. "We do not have any more refugees inside Zaire." There were only former Rwandan Government soldiers, who had refused to return, and their families. Addressing the question of refugee assistance, he cited, as an example, a refugee camp which had also served as a military training area. When the Rwandan refugees had returned home, the military elements had moved further into Zaire. It was not appropriate to extend refugee status to a criminal army that was inside of Zaire.
Asked to name the European country which was financing the mercenaries, Mr. Kayinamura said he would not do so now. However, it was known as a country which had supported operations in Zaire in the past. Asked the current status of relations between Rwanda and Zaire, he said the Zairian Government had closed his country's embassy in Kinshasa. Nevertheless, their embassy in Kigali remained open.
Responding to a request for clarification on the question of refugee assistance, Mr. Kayinamura said that, in the past, humanitarian agencies had fallen into the trap of feeding an army that was within the refugee camp. However, the bonafide refugees had now returned home.
A correspondent asked for an update on the trials taking place in Kigali. Mr. Kayinamura said the trials had begun and were proceeding smoothly. They were taking place throughout the country and were open to the public. Asked whether a colonel currently charged with crimes against humanity should also be tried for violations of the arms embargo, Mr. Kayinamura said he did not know what would happen, but that he should be tried for that crime.
If the situation between Rwanda and Zaire worsened, what would be the next move? a correspondent asked. Would there be a formal complaint against Zaire, or against the European country for the financing of mercenaries? Mr. Kayinamura expressed the hope that none would continue to finance the mercenaries or to speak on their behalf. Asked if Rwanda's complaints had been made to the Secretary-General's representative, he said they had discussed the situation. However, there had been dramatic developments over the past week, when mercenaries had been seen fighting with former Rwandan Government soldiers.
Had the appointment of a Special Representative for the Great Lakes region been a good idea? a correspondent asked. Mr. Kayinamura said the Great Lakes region was a very broad area. Perhaps the areas of focus could be better defined.
Rwanda Press Conference - 3 - 3 February 1997
Apart from Belgian, what were the nationalities of the mercenaries? a correspondent asked. Mr. Kayinamura said there were Serbs, Croats and various soldiers of fortune. Asked if any were South African, he said he didn't know. To another question, he said there were also some French.
A correspondent asked about a priest who was killed yesterday. Mr. Kayinamura said the priest had been in church at the time, serving mass. He was about to extend communion to his killer, who shot him and ran. "He will not escape; he will be caught", Mr. Kayinamura said.
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