[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 103 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 1, 1994]


 
                        THE SITUATION IN RWANDA

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I rise to comment just briefly on the 
situation in Rwanda and the surrounding territory.
  I am pleased with the decision the President has made to deploy 200 
troops to secure the airport at Kigali. That is now secure, and 
humanitarian supplies can get into the capital city of Rwanda in 
Kigali.
  I have a staff member there, Caroline Reynolds. And I am pleased that 
the Secretary of Defense has been visiting there.
  General Dallaire is the Canadian general in charge of the U.N. 
contingent there. While I have never met the man, I have been on the 
phone to him several times. And I have been very favorably impressed by 
General Dallaire, and everyone tells me he is an extremely confident 
person.
  He says that he needs 4,100 troops within the next 2 weeks to 
stabilize the situation in Rwanda. Right now, at least temporarily, the 
situation within the country is stabilized. You have huge numbers of 
refugees outside of the country, many of whom are now starting to come 
back in. The Ethiopians, the Tunisians, and Zimbabweans have all 
indicated a willingness to send troops, and I would hope we could 
assist in that.
  General Dallaire would also like to see the United States send in 
medical teams to help in three towns in southern Rwanda complimenting 
the efforts made by Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, and also to 
send in engineering units for repair of bridges and other things like 
that.
  I am pleased that the new government in Rwanda has agreed to human 
rights monitors throughout the country. We now have 200 troops there. 
Within the next 2 weeks, Great Britain will have 800, Canada will have 
600, and Australia will have 300. Those troops are there for noncombat 
purposes--medical, demining, and engineering. The remnants of the 
former government now in Zaire, the Organization for African Unity 
under Secretary General Salim are negotiating to work something out 
between the Government that is Rwanda and the former government 
remnants.
  Generally speaking, the situation within the country is a much better 
situation. The situation for the refugees outside of the country 
remains, particularly in Zaire, a very difficult one.
  I hope the administration, as well as Congress, will continue to 
cooperate in providing emergency assistance. But the administration is 
doing the right thing by responding to the needs there.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. DANFORTH addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri [Mr. Danforth] is 
recognized.

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