Meeting with the RPF Delegation in Arusha

Dr. Salim held a meeting with a senior delegation of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) led by its Chairman, Alexis Kanyarengwe on the crisis in Rwanda. Thereafter, Dr. Salim met with the Rwandan Government delegation led by Andre Ntagerura, Minister of Transport and Communication. Throughout his time in Arusha, Dr. Salim also met with senior leaders from the Government of Tanzania including Abdulrahman Kinana, Minister of Defense and Josepgh Rwegasira, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"At the end of our meeting, Foreign Minister Rwegasira said that the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania who was in Arusha with several other Ambassadors to follow the Rwanda Peace Talks said this evening in front of the Foreign Minister and the other Ambassadors that the United States is prepared to intervene militarily in the Rwanda crisis. The Ambassador further told Foreign Minister Rwegasira that he would want to meet with the RPF delegation and that finally the Ambassadors will tell the RPF so. I told the Foreign Minister that all the public statements and private discussions I have had with the U.S. clearly indicate that no such intervention is envisaged. If what the Ambassador said is true, then this is a radical departure of U.S. policy. But knowing U.S. policies and the Clinton Administration position, I do not believe that there is any possibility of such direct intervention." - Dr. Salim, May 3, 1994