U.S. Department of State
96/01/26 USUN Press Release #009-(96)
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 
 
 
 
 
                                        USUN PRESS RELEASE #009-(96) 
                                                    JANUARY 26, 1996 
 
 
           Statement by U.S. Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright 
                            Kigali, Rwanda 
                       Sunday, January 21, 1996 
 
 
I have just concluded a very fruitful discussion with the President and 
the Vice President.  Rwanda is confronted with many challenges this 
year, and I believe our talks will help us to address those challenges. 
 
This morning I flew by helicopter to Kibuye and visited the first mass 
grave site being exhumed by the International Tribunal.  The remains in 
that site will be used as evidence in connection with the first eight 
indictments issued last month by the Tribunal.  My visit to the Kibuye 
site was a sobering experience that confronted me with the grim reality 
of Rwanda's genocide.  You suffered the worst fate that can fall on any 
country, the murder of its own people by its own people.  The United 
States was at the forefront in creating the International Tribunal and 
remains at the forefront in supporting its critical work. 
 
I came to Rwanda at the request of President Clinton to assess the 
situation here and report back to him as well as to the United Nations 
Security Council.  Let me commend the government of Rwanda for some 
important achievements since taking office, including restoring 
stability and rebuilding the infrastructure here.  The United States 
strongly supports the government of Rwanda.  We are determined to be 
your friend and ally in the pursue of peace, justice and economic 
development.  In that spirit I want to announce that we have been 
working hard in Washington to find some additional funding up to $1 
million dollars within our own budget for the UN human rights field 
operation whose monitors are critical to building a better society here.  
We intend to secure those funds for a voluntary contribution to the 
United Nations programs later this year.  We also are finalizing 
arrangements to provide two experienced prosecutors to work with the 
International Tribunal.  The United States has paid its assessments for 
the Tribunal and continues to provide a large amount of personnel and 
logistical support.  We call upon other governments to provide more 
financial and logistical support to the Tribunal. 
 
However, in addition to these positive comments I also convey to the 
President and Vice President some concerns we have about pressing issues 
confronting this country.  As a friend of Rwanda, I express my concern 
on the following issues.  The overcrowding of the prisons must end.  
Alternative forms of justice to handle the thousands of men and women in 
prison for genocide must be addressed as quickly as possible by the 
government.  The United States stands prepared to assist in whatever we 
can do to establish such mechanisms. 
 
The government needs to work closely with the UNHCR to manage the 
repatriation of refugees.  Security for the international tribunal and 
for humanitarian workers must be established before UNAMIR departs in 
march.  Humanitarian aid agencies operating in this country deserve the 
government's full support.  Let me close by saying that these are all 
solvable problems.  The future of Rwanda can be a bright one and the 
United States will continue to help you, Mr. President, and Mr. Vice 
President to emerge from genocide and build a prosperous society.  
President Clinton sent a letter to the President in which he made clear 
that we were concerned and we were committed to Rwanda.  Thank you very 
much.