S/PV.3436 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, document S/1994/1133. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1994/1 115, which contains the text of a letter dated 28 September 1994 from the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council has considered the Secretary-General’s progress report on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) (S/1994/1133). The Council stresses the importance it attaches to the role of UNAMIR, whose neutral and independent presence is crucial to creating conditions of security. It welcomes the Secretary-General’s revised deployment schedule for UNAMIR which is intended to promote security in all sectors of the country and create conditions conducive to the return of refugees. It also welcomes the assistance being provided by UNAMIR to the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to establish a new integrated police force. It encourages UNAMIR to continue that assistance and asks the Secretary-General to provide it with detailed information on this programme, “The Security Council remains extremely concerned at the plight of the millions of refugees and displaced persons in Rwanda and the countries of the region, It reiterates its view that their return to their homes is essential for the normalization of the situation in Rwanda and for the stabilization of the region. It deplores the continuing acts of intimidation and violence within the refugee camps which are designed to prevent the refngee population there from returning home. It welcomes the commitment of the Governments of Zaire, Tanzania and Burundi to help resolve the problems facing the refugees, and calls upon them to do all in their power to ensure the safety both of the refugees and of the international personnel providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees. “The Security Council notes the view expressed in the report that the most effective way of ensuring the safety of the refugees and their freedom to return to Rwanda would be the separation of political leaders, former RGF soldiers and militias from the rest of the refugee population, and looks forward to receiving a further report from the Secretary-General on this issue, as soon as possible, based, inter alia, on the findings of the United Nations team participating in the joint ZairianDJnited Nations working group, It stresses once again the responsibilities which fall upon the neighbouring countries including that of ensuring that their territories are not used to destabilize the situation. “The return of refugees is also crucially dependent upon the situation within Rwanda itself, including the existence of a climate of confidence and the establishment of a more secure environment. The Security Council notes the important role human rights monitors and their speedy deployment will’ have in this context and notes also the importance of cooperation between them and UNAMIR. The Security Council stresses the importance it attaches to UNAMIR having an effective broadcasting service to provide objective information. It hopes that the Government of Rwanda will assist in enabling the proposed United Nations radio station to come into operation as soon as possible. “The Security Council welcomes the efforts being made by the Rwandan Government to facilitate the return of refugees and to begin the difficult process of national reconciliation and reconstruction in the country. It notes with concern reports that some reprisals may have occurred and affirms the importance It attaches to the avoidance of reprisals against returnees and to the safeguarding of their property rights. It welcomes the speed with which the United Nations and the Government of Rwanda responded to allegations that some RPA soldiers might have been responsible for systematic killings. It underlines the importance it attaches to the thorough and expeditious investigation of these allegations. “The Security Council welcomes the assurance given to Council members by President Bizimungu of his Government’s commitment to achieving national reconciliation and promoting respect for the fundamental rights of individuals. The Security Council stresses the importance it attaches to the Government of Rwanda implementing this commitment. In this context it endorses the Secretary-General’s call to the Government of Rwanda to maintain an open dialogue with all political interest groups in Rwanda in an effort to achieve genuine reconciliation between all elements of Rwandan society, within the frame of reference of the Arusha Peace Agreement. In particular, the Security Council encourages the Rwandan Government to continue its efforts to invite members of the MRND who were not involved in the massacres to participate in the Government and to absorb members of the former RGF into the new army. “The Security Council reaffm its view that those responsible for serious breaches of international humanitarian law and acts of genocide must be brought to justice. ‘It stresses that persons involved in such acts cannot achieve immunity from prosecution by fleeing the country and notes that the provisions of the Convention relating to the status of refugees do not apply to such persons. In this context, the Council is currently considering the recommendations of the Commission of Experts in respect of the establishment of an international tribunal and will act expeditiously in the matter. “The Security Council commends the assistance given by the international community, the UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in response to the crisis in Rwanda. It calls on them to maintain their support during the difficult transition period and to begin to redirect their support from relief to rehabilitation and reconstruction. It endorses the Secretary-General’s views as to the importance of immediate and coordinated assistance, in particular to the restoration of civil administration and the reconstruction of the social and economic infrastructure of the country. “The Security Council agrees with the Secretary-General that developments in Rwanda strengthen the case for a broader approach to the question of national reconciliation and other key aspects of the crisis. It encourages him to continue his consultations on how the United Nations can assist in the preparation and convening of an international conference to look into the problems of the subregion. “The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. ” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1994/59. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. The meeting rose at IO.55 a.m.