Global General
UN chief has "very constructive" talks with Rwandan president
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-10 09:25
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UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon said here on Thursday that he had "very constructive" talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other government officials about their concerns regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) human rights report compiled by the United Nations, and they discussed the issues "in great details."
The mapping report, prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and leaked to the press, is scheduled to be made public on October 1 and describes a total of more than 600 incidents in the DRC during the 10-year period in which tens of thousands of people were killed.
The preliminary version of the leaked report alleged that the Rwandan forces committed war crimes in the DRC in 1996-1997, according to earlier media reports.
It covers not only the war-torn east but the entire territory of the DRC, and has the overarching objective of helping the Congolese government to establish transitional judicial systems and fight impunity.
Kagame, who is also commander-in-chief of the Rwandan armed forces, said he was "disappointed" about the report, and threatened to pull his country's troops out of the international peacekeeping mission in Sudan to demonstrate Kigali's fury about the leaked report.
"As you know, I decided to visit Kigali to speak directly with President Kagame and his government about their concerns regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo Human Rights mapping exercise commissioned by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights," the secretary-general said.
"We discussed the matter in great details," he said. "I listened very carefully to their concerns. I fully understand and appreciate the depth of their feelings on this matter."
"I encouraged President Kagame and the Rwandan government, and indeed all concerned countries, to submit their comments on the report by the end of this month, as requested by High Commissioner Navi Pillay," he said. "Those comments will be released together with the final version of this mapping report simultaneously on October 1."
"We will continue our dialogue when President Kagame visits New York this month," Ban said.
However, the secretary-general did not disclose further details on his talks with the Rwandan president and Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo. Ban was accompanied by Roger Meece, the UN special representative for the DRC, Alain Le Roy, the UN under- secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, and Ivan Simonovic, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights.
During the meeting with the Rwandan president and foreign minister, "I also strongly praised Rwanda's commitment to the United Nations and in particular its role in peacekeeping operations," Ban said. "Rwandan forces are well trained and continue to make important contributions to peace and security in the region."
"Many Rwandan soldiers have given their lives while serving the cause of peace, and I honor their memory," he said. "Rwanda's contribution is all the more important because we are going to see two referenda in Sudan in January next year. We need to do more to protect the civilian population -- not least women and children."
According to the United Nations, there are 3,500 Rwandan troops in the UN-African Union joint peacekeeping force in Sudan, where two key referendum votes are to be conducted in January next year.
"President Kagame and I agreed that it is extremely important for Rwanda to continue its role in peacekeeping operations," Ban added.