From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS: RWANDA: PEACE TALKS RESUME AMID OPTIMISM
Date: 13 Oct 92 03:52:01 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Originator: barnhart@gagme

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Africa, southern; Disarmament & Peace
Title: RWANDA: PEACE TALKS RESUME AMID OPTIMISM FOR AN AGREEMENT


arusha, tanzania, oct 5 (ips) -- after a stalemate over the
question of power-sharing, rwanda and its rebel foes began
their fourth round of peace talks monday in this northern
tanzanian town.

mediated by tanzania, the 10-day talks are a continuation
of the third round of talks which collapsed last month. the
rwandese government delegation and rebels of the rwandese
patriotic front (rpf) had agreed on definitions and principles
of power-sharing.

but they differed widely on the constitution of the
presidency during the transition to democratic rule.

the third round of the talks failed when the rpf, drawn
mainly from the minority tutsi people, rejected the government's
proposal for a powerful ministerial council to be headed by a
president during a transition.

while the government said the transition period would be six
months, the rpf maintained the period should be four years from
the signing of a peace accord to allow the two sides to prepare
for elections.

the rpf demanded the creation of a seven-member presidential
council with full executive powers, drawing representatives from
all sides in the rwanda crisis.

a 10,000-strong rpf army invaded rwanda from neighbouring
uganda nearly two years ago in an attempt to topple the
19-year-old government of president juvenal habyarimana.

the rpf wants adjustments in state powers that will allow the
opposition parties to take part and manage the transition
''efficiently''. the government rejects this.

if the rpf demands were accepted, it would make the incumbent
a ceremonial head of state.

last week, habyarimana began diplomatic initiatives to end
the country's civil war. he sent his foreign minister boniface
ngurinzila, visited rwanda's neighbours -- burundi, tanzania,
uganda and zaire -- with special messages about the peace
negotiations.

after the disagreement on power-sharing, officials attend the
talks are optimistic the warring parties would come to an
agreement this time round. (more/ips)


rwanda: peace (2)

''prospects for peace are very promising'', rwandese
ambassador to tanzania, thomas munyaneza, told ips monday.
''i believe we will end up by signing a peace accord''.

the war between the rpf and the hutu people-dominated
government is a reminder of the brutal ethnic conflict some
three years ago in which about 100,000 people were killed.

at least 250,000 of rwanda's population of 7.5 million have
been displaced by the current conflict.

''we hope this time the warring parties will come to an
agreement'', jean-christophe belliard, an official of the
french embassy in tanzania, said.

the talks, being held under the auspicies of the organisation
of african unity (oau), are being attended by international
observers from belgium, rwanda's former coloniser, burundi,
germany, nigeria, senegal and the united states.

meanwhile, a senior tanzanian official told ips monday
the ceasefire agreed at the first round of talks here in july
was still holding ''because all sides are committed to end the
civil war''.

''we are satisfied the ceasefire is still in force'', ame
mpungwe, director of africa and the middle east at the foreign
ministry, said on his return from addis ababa, ethiopia, where
he attended the joint political-military commission on rwanda.

the sep. 26-28 meeting of the commission reviewed reports on
the ceasefire from the commander of the neutral military
observer group and the oau secretariat.

during the first round of talks, the rwandese government and
the rpf reached a ceasefire accord and signed a protocol of
understanding on the rule of law. (end/ips/pc/apc/oa/92)