S/PV.3288 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Rwanda, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Gasana (Rwanda) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on Rwanda, documents S/26488 and Add.1. Members of the Council also have before them document S/26519, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. The first speaker is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, His Excellency Mr. Anastase Gasana. I welcome His Excellency and invite him to address the Council. on behalf of the Twandese Republic and the people of Rwanda to congratulate you sincerely, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for October. I am convinced that, thanks to your vast experience as an able diplomat, the work of the Council will be crowned with success under your leadership. It gives me pleasure also to pay a well-deserved tribute to His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Venezuela, who guided the affairs of the Council last month with wisdom and skill. On the occasion of the Security Council’s consideration of the agenda item devoted to the situation in my country, Rwanda, I should also like to express to the members of the Council the Rwandese people’s thanks for their dedication and unswerving support for the peace process in Rwanda. We are also profoundly grateful to the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for the indefatigable efforts he has constantly exerted to achieve a definitive and lasting settlement to the war situation our country has been facing since 1 October 1990. Today, I speak to all the members of the Council as head of a joint delegation that the two parties that only yesterday were locked in conflict have decided to send here to the United Nations Security Council to demonstrate their true interest in burying the hatchet of war once and for all, in reaching a negotiated settlement to the political problems underlying the war and in engaging, sincerely and unequivocally, in the process of peace and national reconciliation. The dynamic created by the Peace Agreement signed by the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front at Arusha, in the United Republic of Tanzania, on 4 August 1993 put an end to the war and provided the two parties with the appropriate framework for setting up transitional institutions designed to consolidate political pluralism and the ongoing democratic process in Rwanda. The Rwandese people can never find sufficient words to thank all the countries and eminent personalities from all over the world that stood with the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front as they travelled the road of their peace negotiations. In this connection I have the honour to pay a special tribute to the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and to their member States, especially those that agreed to act as observers at the Arusha negotiations - France, the United States of America, Germany and Belgium - as well as to the States that dispatched contingents to Rwanda in the context of the OAU Neutral Military Observer Group to encourage both sides to abide by the agreed-upon cease-fire. It is also my pleasant duty to pay a very special tribute to the Republic of Zaire and the United Republic of Tanzania, which generously agreed to act as mediators and facilitators at the beginning of the conflict and continued to do so down to the conclusion of the Peace Agreement. Our gratitude goes also to all the countries and international and non-governmental organizations that spared no effort to help Rwanda throughout the course of the war, particularly by furnishing humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the war. We remain deeply obliged to the Security Council for the sustained attention it has constantly devoted to Rwanda. The many, diverse missions sent to Rwanda by the United Nations made it possible to identify the ways and means best suited to bringing the peace process to success, particularly after the dispatch of a neutral international force with the task of backing up the resolute determination of the United Nations to put into effect the Peace Agreement in Rwanda. In this connection, I should like to tell the Secretary-General of the United Nations that the people of Rwanda are deeply grateful for his concise and complete report, which covers all aspects of the situation in the country and establishes a solid foundation for the need to dispatch, a United Nations assistance mission to Rwanda. I am pleased to inform the Security Council that this report is perfectly acceptable to the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front. Hence, on their behalf, I ask the Council to be good enough to approve the report and follow up the recommendations in it with the urgency they deserve. We Rwandans view the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda as a valuable tool for implementing the Peace Agreement for the two belligerent parties that were yesterday pitted against each other and are today represented here as part of a joint delegation. Basically, this Mission will serve as an arbiter and facilitator as we progress towards consolidating peace and achieving national reconciliation and democratization throughout the country.Like the OAU Neutral Military Observer Group, which that organization was good enough to dispatch to Rwanda to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire, the United Nations Assistance Mission will enjoy complete security. Thus, this United Nations operation guarantees the success of the procress set in train for our country by the Arusha Peace Agreement. It is fully in keeping with the expectations of the two parties. I can therefore assure the Security Council that the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front will do all in their power to abide strictly by the Peace Agreement and to see to it that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda will not encounter any problems. My delegation has listened with care to the statements made in recent days by eminent world personalities from the rostrum of the General Assembly. The positions taken by various speakers with regard to peace-keeping operations throughout the world commanded our attention. We found them very encouraging, for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda is precisely in line with the prevailing philosophy. The joint delegation of the Rwandese Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front is not unaware of the financial constraints now facing the Organization and its Member States. We therefore subscribe to the approach recommended by the Secretary-General in his report to ensure the progressive deployment and withdrawal of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. On behalf of the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front, I thank the Security Council for the highly important decision it is about to take to consolidate peace in Rwanda by quickly deploying the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. We express in advance our gratitude to all the Member States that will generously support the Organization to ensure the success of that Mission and thus enable Rwanda to regain the peace so necessary for the resumption of its development programmes. With the Council’s permission, we should like to emphasize that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda should be in place as soon as possible, and we request that the deadlines set forth in the Secretary-General’s report for its deployment be advanced. There are indeed a number of reasons why we consider this to be so urgent. We have two armies, involving some 5,000 men, until yesterday engaged in conflict, now face to face, under the cease-fire of course; but everything must be done to see to it that they are immediately disengaged and that this process will lead quickly to the establishment of a joint national army. The political will demonstrated by the two parties which, yesterday, were at war, deserves the international community’s support, which should facilitate the establishment of political institutions as envisaged in the peace agreement. Nearly one million people displaced by war impatiently await the deployment of the United Nations mission so that they may return home safely before the next growing season, which begins soon, and so that the spectre of famine now hanging over them may be banished. Hundreds of thousands of students have not been able to go to school for three years and are awaiting the restoration of conditions of security in the areas stricken by war so that they may be able to return to school without any danger. Many refugees from Rwanda around the world are also counting on the United Nations mission to guarantee the security they need for their return to their country. Finally, war has seriously ravaged the economy of Rwanda, and by re-establishing conditions of security the United Nations mission will further the recovery of our economy and will establish confidence in the countries of our sub-region, furthering the re-establishment of the regional economic aid programmes dislocated by war. You will understand the importance of the political, military, humanitarian, economic and social missions that make the United Nations mission to Rwanda both necessary and urgent. We will continue to be grateful to you for the positive follow-up that we hope you will give to the recommendation by the Secretary-General of our Organization for the urgent dispatch to Rwanda of a United Nations assistance mission. Once again I reconfirm that the Rwandese Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front, for which I have the honour of heading a mission, a joint delegation, will spare no pains to see to it that this will indeed be a successful mission. Finally, I could not possibly complete my remarks without first, on behalf of the Rwandese people, and on behalf of the joint delegation I am heading, addressing a word of thanks and of profound gratitude to France, to the Government of France and to the Permanent Mission of France here at the United Nations for their having sponsored the draft resolution on Rwanda now before the Council for adoption at this evening’s meeting. All the Rwandese people, as beneficiaries of the important decision that you are about to take, of the important resolution you are about to adopt, this people of Rwanda will be forever grateful to you. I thank you.

I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda for his kind words addressed to me. It is my understanding that the Security Council is ready to proceed to vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. I shall now call upon those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting. a pleasure for me to extend to you, on behalf of the delegation of Morocco, my sincere congratulations on your election to the Presidency of the Security Council for the current month. I am convinced that your competence, your skill and your wisdom will guide us to certain success in our deliberations. I would like to assure you of the availability of my delegation to cooperate fully with you in order to guarantee the success of your task. I am also duty-bound to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Taylhardat, the Permanent Representative of Venezuela, for the excellent way in which he conducted our work during a particularly difficult and loaded month, that of September. It is with deep interest that my delegation has considered the excellent report of the Secretary-General (S/26488) issued on 24 September. We fully subscribe to the relevant recommendations in that report, and especially those for establishing a peace- keeping force of the United Nations in Rwanda. We are deeply convinced, in fact, that the decision by the Security Council to launch this operation will on the one hand contribute to the establishment of an environment conducive to peace and a smoothly functioning transitional Government, as provided for in the Arusha Peace Agreement of 4 August; and will on the other hand help to implement the provisions of that agreement and the protocols attached to it. My delegation is among those who feel that the Security Council must meet quickly in order to proceed to the launching of this operation jointly wished for by the parties involved. As the Secretary-General indicated in his report, we feel that any delay in establishing the transitional arrangements in Rwanda would jeopardize the peace process begun there and would annihilate all of the efforts made over so many months to come up with a solution to the crisis in Rwanda. We are therefore pleased to see that the Security Council, having realized the urgency of this situation, has decided to react quickly in order to avoid any possible regrettable occurrence. We would like in this connection to congratulate most wholeheartedly the two parties, which have demonstrated patience and maturity and have thus shown their sincere will to cooperate and their desire to achieve reconciliation. Rwanda has suffered enough from the consequences of a fratricidal war which has devastated the country and reduced thousands of individuals to flight, famine and exile. My country, which has always advocated dialogue and the peaceful reconciliation of conflicts, can only express its pleasure at the positive developments in the political situation in Rwanda. We hope that we will see a successful outcome of the peace process that has begun, and that it will lead to the consolidation of democracy in that fraternal African country. It is encouraging, furthermore, to see that, thanks to the initiative taken by the Secretary-General and to the efforts made by the international community, the humanitarian situation in Rwanda has improved considerably. The inter-agency appeal launched by the United Nations last April to bring international assistance to some 900,000 persons displaced by the war - 13 per cent of the Rwandan population - has led to tangible results: 600,000 refugees have now returned home following the signature by the parties, of the Agreement of 30 May 1993 concerning the return of displaced persons. Nevertheless, we should acknowledge that, despite the progress achieved, the humanitarian problem is far from being resolved. We feel, therefore, that humanitarian activities must be undertaken on a large scale in order to meet the immediate needs of the Rwandan people and most particularly of the 300,000 individuals who have not yet been rehabilitated. The international community, moreover, must provide all necessary economic, financial and technical assistance to Rwanda to help this fraternal country to begin the reconstruction and rehabilitation work necessary to bring prosperity and peace to the Rwandan people. Anxious to see Rwanda live in security and peace and overcome this terrible period of crisis that it has gone through, my delegation can only support the draft resolution in which we have participated actively, in the hope that the parties will respect it in good faith for the future good of their country.

I thank the representative of Morocco for his kind words addressed to me. greet most warmly His Excellency the Foreign Minister of Rwanda and thank him deeply for his contribution in the form of the statement he has just made before this Council. Allow me first and foremost, Mr. President, to congratulate you most warmly on your noteworthy election to the presidency of the Security Council. Indeed, it is a source of deep satisfaction for my country to see Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg - a skilled and experienced diplomat representing a country with which Cape Verde has very special ties based on common language, culture and history - presiding over the work of the Council this month. I should like also to place on record our deepest appreciation for the efficacy displayed by Ambassador Adolfo Taylhardat of Venezuela in guiding our work last month, when he had just assumed his functions as Permanent Representative of his country to the United Nations and also at a time when we had to grapple with very difficult issues. It is not every day that we have the opportunity to welcome here in the United Nations the official delegation of a country ravaged by a national conflict made up of those who only yesterday were pitted against each other in war. This bears eloquent witness not only to the dedication of both parties to finding a definitive solution to the conflict in Rwanda but also to the unshakeable determination of an entire people regarding the imperative need for United Nations forces in Rwanda in order to preserve the moment of confidence and optimism and for the peace plan to be implemented as quickly as possible. We therefore welcome this Council’s ability once again to display keen awareness of the facts and to exercise the responsibilities assigned it by the United Nations Charter. By adopting the draft resolution before us, the Council will be lending its approval to the proposals contained in the Secretary-General’s report (S/26488) of 24 September 1993, aiming at the phased implementation of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. The proper and rapid implementation of this consensus draft resolution is, in our view, a sine qua non for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda to carry out its work successfully in the context of the cease-fire; in terms of establishing various cantonment areas and areas where military personnel and weapons are to be gathered; in mine-clearing; in humanitarian aid; in the return of refugees and displaced persons; in disarmament and the demobilization of the armed forces; and, finally, in the restructuring of the Rwandese defence forces. This decisive contribution of the United Nations to the resolution of the conflict unleashed in Rwanda is, at the same time, in the eyes of many - and especially the small countries - an assurance that now more than ever the United Nations is, during this turbulent phase of the transition to a new international order, the main instrument at the service of the peoples of the world in questions relating to the promotion and preservation of international peace and security. We could not possibly overestimate the importance of international humanitarian assistance to this country, where, ever since hostilities broke out in 1991, more than a million people have found themselves refugees or displaced persons. Economic and social progress have been jeopardized, and vast numbers of mines have been scattered over the national soil. We hope that the political will of the international community to help the Rwandese people, which is referred to in paragraph 17 of the Secretary-General’s report (S/26488), will be speedily translated into concrete acts of support for national reconstruction and that the international round table on aid to Rwanda will be held as envisaged at the beginning of 1994. At the very moment when we are adopting this important draft resolution, we deem it timely to call to mind the history of the conflict in Rwanda and the process leading to its settlement in order to highlight the decisive role played then and still being played by the Organization of African Unity (OAS) and by Tanzania, a facilitator country. Indeed, the action of the OAU shows the importance of correctness of the Secretary-General’s proposals in "An Agenda for Peace", dealing with the role of organizations and regional arrangements in the realm of conflict resolution in concert with the United Nations. For this reason, while appreciating the magnificent actions of the OAU in the service of the international community, we cannot but encourage it from this lofty forum to pursue its efforts along the same lines, to avail itself more and more of the help of the entire international community and to arm itself with more mechanisms and necessary means for the accomplishment of the noble task of preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa. We should like to conclude by sending out an urgent appeal to the Rwandese parties to maintain in the future the same attitude they have displayed today, because with them lies the most important key to the resolution of the conflict in their country.

I thank the representative of Cape Verde for his kind words addressed to me. Mr. OLHAYE (Djibouti): At the outset, Sir, I wish to congratulate you most warmly on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. Indeed, your intense probing, intellectual capacity and extensive experience will be of immense benefit to this Council. I wish also to express our deep gratitude to Ambassador Taylhardat of Venezuela for his leadership of the Council during the past, important, month. We have all come to respect the high level of ability he has demonstrated. I cannot fail to acknowledge the presence in our midst of the honourable Foreign Minister of Rwanda and the strong, joint delegation he is heading. We are very impressed by the way they have convincingly presented their case to us and for their perseverance in seeing this draft resolution become a reality before their departure for home. My delegation would like to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his detailed and comprehensive report on the situation in Rwanda. It is evident that there is a genuine desire for peace on the part of the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front. The period of time during which they have negotiated together over the many aspects of the peace accord they have discussed and agreed upon bear witness to this. Hopefully, this will allow the United Nations to return to its classic role in peace-keeping, that of implementing an agreement desired and accepted by both parties. For this reason my delegation fully supports the draft resolution before us authorizing United Nations participation in this process. Hopefully, United Nations peace- keepers and monitors can be placed in a timely manner, the most urgent of which appears to be the termination of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) monitor’s mandate on 31 October this year. We should note with appreciation the constant supportive role played by the OAU, the Government of Tanzania as a facilitator and the Government of France, to name only a few, towards the achievement of a meaningful political settlement in this terrible drama. The Secretary-General and his staff are to be praised for the way they have followed this event and the steps they have taken to bring the sides together with others to bring peace. It is another example of United Nations regional cooperation which should end on a positive note. We have often expressed our deep concern at the situation in Rwanda and the violations of the Peace Agreement cease-fire stipulations. In addition to the mounting human toll and desperate refugee situation, there is also the fear that the impact of this conflict could become pervasive in the region, certainly with disastrous consequences for all. While all these fears have abated for the moment, it is critical for all of us to seize this opportunity for peace as quickly as possible and begin the implementation process. The rival military elements must be separated and disarmed with all haste and reintegrated armed forces and police instituted in due course. One of the aspects of the Secretary-General’s report which deserves praise is the very logical way in which the activities of the United Nations have been considered and goals and timetables set. There seems to be general agreement that a transitional Government is needed to handle affairs until elections are arranged, and that none of this can take place without the presence of the United Nations. This again underscores the timeliness of this draft resolution and the need for us to be established in Rwanda as soon as possible. My delegation also appreciates the emphasis placed in the report on the humanitarian situation and the return of nearly two thirds of the displaced persons to their homes. We cannot overemphasize the need to work out the dire refugee situation and we strongly commend the vital roles played by the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Finally, we note that the increasingly alarming problem of mines will be dealt with, as that seems to pose a serious threat to the civilian population. The call for continued support for Rwanda is therefore well taken. We support the present draft resolution calling for the creation of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda and the Secretary-General’s desire to move as quickly as possible to be in place while the spirit of all involved is positive.

I thank the representative of Djibouti for his kind words addressed to me. The Council will now take a decision on the draft resolution contained in document S/26519. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 872 (1993). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. Mr. MÉRIMÉE (France) (interpretation from French): My delegation welcomes the adoption of this resolution by our Council. In taking this step, the Council has met the expectations of Rwandans which have been repeatedly expressed to the United Nations through representatives of the Government and the Rwandese Patriotic Front and which were reiterated a moment ago by the Foreign Minister of Rwanda. We welcome his presence among us. Moreover, in acting promptly the Security Council has made it possible to establish an element essential to the full implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement signed on 4 August. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) will make it possible truly to set in motion the peace process by installing in the Rwandese capital provisional institutions which will be able, in turn, to launch the process of economic reconstruction and organize the repatriation of many refugees and displaced persons. That is why the Secretary-General is authorized to deploy a contingent in Kigali as soon as possible. This deployment will then be followed by the dispatching to Rwanda of other elements to be put gradually into place. However, in establishing this operation, the Security Council does not intend to wait passively for the peace process to conclude. Our Council clearly indicates that the United Nations does not intend to remain in Rwanda indefinitely. UNAMIR has in fact been set up with a specific deadline. Furthermore, our Council will soon be considering a report reviewing the implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement, on which may hinge the successive deployments being foreseen. These precautions amount to a number of elements that must prompt the Rwandese Government and the Patriotic Front to work together to restore peace to Rwanda after a conflict that, sadly, has had too many victims. The example they are setting - an all too rare example - of the coming together of two parties long opposed must lead our Council to recognize that this is a special case of United Nations intervention, in the success of which my country believes. like to congratulate the parties involved in concluding the Arusha Peace Agreement. We would also like to add our congratulations to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, which kept the parties talking even when it seemed unlikely that agreement could be reached. I think its role as a facilitator is one which the Council should recognize. We regard the Arusha Peace Agreement as a good example of the way in which a regional organization can contribute to conflict resolution. In a sense, an African solution was found to an African problem. We would like to encourage regional organizations, and in particular the Organization of African Unity, to build on this experience in the spirit that was set out in the communiqué to the Cairo summit. It is important, in our view, that the Organization of African Unity should remain engaged in the implementation of this settlement. We recognize that the roots of this dispute, which has caused so much damage and so much loss of life, go back many years. Ultimately, it is for the Rwandese themselves to bring about a solution and to create an atmosphere which will enable the safe return of the refugees from neighbouring countries and the resettlement of displaced persons within Rwanda. But it is of course right that the international community should help them in this task. My Government attaches importance to the early logistical and administrative integration of the United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) into the force now being set up in Rwanda. But I should make it clear that we regard that as without any prejudice to the continuing validity of the different mandates of these two forces, the mandate of UNOMUR being set out in resolution 846 (1993) and not changed in any way by this present resolution. Peace agreements such as this are only a success if they are pursued in good faith and sincerity by all the parties involved. As recent events elsewhere have demonstrated, the United Nations cannot impose peace where there is no willingness to sustain compromise. It is therefore, in our view, essential that the parties continue to cooperate fully and stick firmly to the timetable that they have set for themselves for national reconciliation and elections. Mr. WALKER (United States of America): Let me take this opportunity to congratulate both the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front for their successful efforts to negotiate a peace accord, which resulted in the signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement on 4 August, 1993. We congratulate the farsighted leaders of both parties who had the courage to put aside their differences and opt for peace over war. Also, we should commend both the Organization of African Unity and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for their roles in bringing the two parties together. The resolution just adopted by the Security Council is another major step in resolving the conflict in Rwanda. We have every hope that our action today will reinforce peace - a crucial prerequisite which allows both parties to build on the trust they have created. We support the deployment of this force because it will advance the goals of peaceful conflict resolution and democratization, and allow the return of hundreds of thousands of those who have fled their homes. It is now up to the Rwandese themselves to ensure that the transition to democracy moves forward. As the Council knows, my Government is deeply concerned about the increasing burden - both in terms of manpower and financial resources - which the United Nations is being asked to shoulder. For that reason we are pleased to note that this resolution has a tightly focused mandate. This body’s continued support will depend in large measure on the demonstration of substantive progress towards the implementation of the peace agreement and the establishment of transitional institutions in advance of national elections. My Government will continue to monitor and work to reduce costs and personnel levels throughout this peace-keeping operation, and we look forward to the report by the Secretary- General called for in the resolution on ways to reduce the levels of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) and to contain costs. Now that the resolution has passed, let me stress the need for the United Nations and all member States to take prompt action to take advantage of the present climate of cooperation. Let us help Rwanda begin the process of disarmament and demobilization in order to allow Rwandans to rebuild their country and their livelihoods. Mr. LI Zhaoxing (China)(interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese delegation welcomes the presence of the Foreign Minister of Rwanda at the Council meeting. We would also like to thank him for the important statement he has just made. On 4 August this year the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) signed in Arusha a peace agreement which has laid a solid foundation for ending the tragic war and restoring peace and stability in the country. This is the result of the joint efforts of the two Rwandese parties, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and Tanzania. For this we wish to express our welcome and appreciation. At present, as the peace process in Rwanda has entered a crucial stage, the key to peace and stability in Rwanda lies in whether the two parties will fully cooperate with the United Nations and the OAU, adopt effective measures, overcome their difficulties, comprehensively implement the Arusha Peace Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions, and start forthwith the cantonment and demobilization of their troops so as to create the necessary conditions for the establishment of the transitional institutions and the holding of the general election on schedule. At the repeated request of the two parties, the Secretary- General has recommended the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). This will help the two parties build mutual trust and contribute to the realization of national reconciliation and lasting peace in the country. The Chinese delegation supports the above-mentioned recommendation of the Secretary-General and voted in favour of the resolution the Council has just adopted. Mr. MARKER (Pakistan): My delegation joins others in welcoming the Foreign Minister of Rwanda. My delegation is also grateful to the Secretary-General for his most comprehensive and lucid report on Rwanda, which has served to considerably facilitate our deliberations on future United Nations involvement in that country. We congratulate the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) on the foresight they displayed in arriving at an Agreement in Arusha on 4 August. There is no doubt that the people of Rwanda, its institutions and its infrastructure have suffered profoundly due to the political tussle and the resulting turmoil. According to the report of the Secretary-General, by March this year about 900,000 people, or approximately 13 per cent of the Rwandese population, had been displaced. This is a very high percentage by any standard. The good news is that around two thirds of the displaced persons have already returned to their homes, but this still leaves a significant number in refugee camps and in need of assistance. We have been impressed by the determination and vigour with which the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front are pursuing the objective of national reconciliation and the establishment of a transitional mechanism that would lead to general elections and, hopefully, a democratically elected Government. This transformation in the Rwandese polity after years of tension and turmoil indeed augurs well for that country. We wish the people and the leaders of Rwanda every success in this regard. The Secretary-General’s proposal to establish a United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), the concept of operations, the proposed force structure and the deployment schedule spelled out by him, are cogent and well-considered. In view of the keenness shown in this context by the Rwandese parties concerned, the Council’s response could be none other than positive. We also deeply appreciate the helpful role played by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and its Secretary-General, as well as by the President of Tanzania, in bringing the situation in Rwanda to its present hopeful stage. My delegation appeals to all concerned to operate strictly within the time-frame provided in the report of the Secretary- General and the resolution just adopted. A sense of urgency should remain paramount. Mr. VORONTSOV (Russian Federation)(interpretation from Russian): We also welcome the presence here at today’s meeting of the Foreign Minister of Rwanda. Russia welcomed the signing on 4 August this year of the Arusha Peace Agreement, as it demonstrated the ability of the regional machinery of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to unravel the intricate knots of conflict on the African continent by political methods. The Russian delegation believes that the establishment, in accordance with the resolution the Security Council has just adopted, of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) should promote effective compliance with the terms of the Peace Agreement by the Rwanda sides. It should help to resolve this long-drawn-out conflict and restore peace and stability. Russia has consistently advocated, and continues to advocate both here in the Security Council and elsewhere, the pooling of United Nations efforts and the efforts of regional organizations in the resolution of conflicts. In that connection, we believe that the experience of effective interaction between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity in the Rwanda settlement could also be utilized in other areas of the world where there are hotbeds of tension that require determined intervention by the international community. Russia for its part is also prepared in future, together with the international community, to support United Nations efforts and efforts of regional organizations aimed at seeking peaceful ways to resolve military conflicts and crises. capacity as the representative of Brazil. The signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement and its protocols by the Government of Rwanda and the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) was a most welcome and encouraging development. It brought with it the promise of a lasting peace and national reconciliation for the people of Rwanda. It opened the way for a definitive solution of serious humanitarian problems resulting from the conflict, including the return and resettlement of the hundreds of thousands of Rwandese refugees and displaced persons. Brazil values the efforts made by African States, and most particularly by Tanzania, in facilitating and promoting the negotiations that led to that significant achievement. The role of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in strengthening the peace process and in contributing to the implementation of the Arusha Agreement will continue to be extremely important. Aware of the pressing tasks of peace and reconstruction in Rwanda, we examined the recommendation submitted by the Secretary- General in his report (S/26488), for which we are thankful, in particular the recommendation for the establishment of a new peace- keeping mission to assist in implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement. The two Rwandese parties agreed to call for the assistance of a neutral international force, to be deployed in Rwanda. The Brazilian Government is convinced that the presence in that country of neutral troops on the basis of a multilaterally established mandate could indeed be of assistance by contributing to greater security, especially in the city of Kigali, by monitoring the cease-fire and by promoting compliance with the provisions of the Peace Agreement. Brazil therefore supports the proposal of sending to Rwanda a peace-keeping mission, as proposed by the Secretary- General. The mandate of the mission is set out in the resolution we have just adopted. It is clear and it is realistic. It has, we believe, the elements necessary for success. The participation in our deliberations of representatives of the joint Rwandese delegation, led by the Foreign Minister of Rwanda himself, is a clear sign of the willingness of both parties to work towards peace, and it reassures the United Nations that the two parties are committed to the concepts of disarmament, demobilization and reconciliation that form the framework for building a peaceful and prosperous future for the Rwandese people. The Brazilian Government lends its support to their joint endeavours, and we strongly encourage them to continue to work hard to put into effect the provisions of the Peace Agreement. We look forward to a successful and undelayed conclusion of the peace process with the holding of national elections and the ensuing installation of the new Government in 1995. The conflict in Rwanda has lasted for too long, as all conflicts do. As all conflicts do, it leaves behind a trail of humanitarian and economic problems that will no doubt pose a difficult challenge to the Rwandese people. We trust that by placing all their hopes in the construction of peace and by building an ever-broader basis of confidence and reconciliation, the people of Rwanda, with appropriate assistance by the international community, will soon succeed in their effort. The new world that they are building will, we trust, prove to be one that is irreversibly oriented towards a future of peace and development. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 7.45 p.m.