UNITED
NATIONS  GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
STATEMENT BY
THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
H.E. MR. JULIAN R. HUNTE
AT
THE
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION
ON THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
NEW YORK
7 April 2004
Mr
Foreign Minister, Mr Secretary General, Mr President
of the Security Council, Excellencies, Distinguished
Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:
If
we could turn back the hands of time, we would surely
go back to that fateful day and time in 1994 when ethnic
and other differences erupted into tragedy, violence and
genocide in Rwanda, and shook the region and the world.
Knowing what we know now, there would be no blurred lines
or ambiguities to affect our understanding of the complexities
that triggered the genocide. Importantly, we would be
better prepared to take preventive and other action consistent
with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the
United Nations.
But
while we may look backwards, we must move forward. The
direction in which we should go has been set out for us
by the leaders of the countries and continent, Africa,
most profoundly affected by the catastrophic events in
Rwanda. The General Assembly has concurred with the Executive
Council of the African Union in determining, in its resolution
58/… that in commemoration of the 1994 genocide in
Rwanda, an international day of reflection and commitment
to fight against genocide, throughout the world, should
be proclaimed. Today, 7 April 2004, we commemorate that
International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in
Rwanda.
The
charge to us, on this International Day of Reflection,
is quite specific. It begins, as it ought to, with honouring
the memory of victims of the genocide in Rwanda. These
victims were the people of whom the United Nations Charter
speaks, and to whom entitlements of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, of tolerance and social justice were accorded
under the Charter. Yet, no less than eight hundred thousand
(800,000) of them - men, women and children - perished
at the hands of those with whom they should have been
engaged in nation building.
What
a pity it is that ethnicity did not yield to nationhood.
What a pity it is that the deliberate killing of the President
of Rwanda, together with the President of Burundi, would
not have caused a nation to mourn, but instead would have
resulted in one hundred days of terror and violence, in
full view of the United Nations and of the world. What
a pity it was that people could be targeted for assassination,
that complicity could be all around, that the media could
help to fuel the conflict.
So,
on this solemn occasion, we remember those who lost their
lives; we express our sincere sympathy to their families
and friends; and we share the hopes and aspirations of
to the Government and people of Rwanda in seeking to heal
and rebuild a nation that is democratic and which has
as its overarching vision of economic and social progress
for all.
What
happened in Rwanda is recognised by the international
community as genocide, within the scope of the United
Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
Genocide. We are reminded, therefore, on this International
Day of Reflection, that we must act in accordance with
that Convention, in Rwanda and wherever genocide and other
violent acts and atrocities are perpetrated.
Many
of those who perpetrated violent acts in Rwanda - government
officials, the military and civilians - were not people
in faceless crowds. They could be identified, and could
be brought to justice. They could be made to understand
that it is not wise to seek to remake a diverse world
such as ours in their own image. For seeking to do so
could result in untold tragedy.
The
early establishment by the Security Council of the Rwanda
Tribunal - in November 1994 - with its seat in Arusha,
Tanzania, has sent a clear message that genocide and other
serious violations of international humanitarian law committed
in Rwanda, and even in neighbouring states, could not
be perpetrated with impunity. The Tribunal's task is a
prodigious one; but its accomplishments are critical to
assuring survivors and families of the victims of the
genocide in Rwanda and others who would perpetrate similar
acts throughout the world - that justice can and will
be done.
The
United Nations, and specifically the Security Council,
has been given authority under the Charter, to maintain
international peace and security. It is an authority it
is called upon to exercise, no matter how formidable the
challenge. We can ill afford to be silent, selective or
inconsistent in our responses, when violence threatens
to engulf a country or a region.
The
international community did not act in time to stop the
violence in Rwanda - we know horrific acts were taking
place even as United Nations peacekeeping forces were
on the ground, and that some peacekeepers also lost their
lives in the wake of the violence. Having had a decade
to reflect on what happened in Rwanda, I know we will
all agree that we should have acted differently. This
underscores the challenge to all of us to seek to ensure
that our commitment to multilateralism is given the standing
to which we agreed in the Charter of the United Nations
and in international law, no matter what the circumstances.
I believe, nevertheless, that the tragedy in Rwanda has
swung open the door of opportunity, for Rwanda, the United
Nations and for the international community. It has, I
believe, underscored for the Government and people of
Rwanda the value of finding alternatives to armed conflict
and violence, and the importance of according a central
place to dialogue, human rights, human dignity and national
unity in the affairs of their country.
For
the United Nations, it has stimulated discussion and debate
over the broad spectrum of issues concerning the organisation's
role in crisis and civil conflict within Member States.
Importantly, it has afforded the organisation the opportunity
to confront, head on, the issues that could lead to other
tragedies such as the one that occurred in Rwanda.
Today,
we are called upon to consider implementing the recommendations
of the Carlsson Report, as part of our reflection on the
matter of genocide. We must be progressive, I believe,
in determining our shortcomings in Rwanda, what we have
done since then, and what remains to be done to prevent
genocide in the years ahead. Those passionate voices that
call in distress to our United Nations in the midst of
tragedy must be assured that the United Nations will stand
for human rights, for freedom and justice, for peace and
security, and that an appropriate response will be forthcoming.
I
extend my sincere best wishes the Government and people
of Rwanda, on their road to permanent and lasting peace.
I
thank you.
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