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DATE=6/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250842
TITLE=U-N / RWANDA INQUIRY (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO THE UNITED NATIONS' RESPONSE 
TO THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA FORMALLY BEGAN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN 
NEW YORK.  THE COMMISSION MET WITH U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI 
ANNAN AND SEVERAL SENIOR U-N OFFICIALS.  V-O-A'S U-N 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE COMMISSION WILL NOT DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF ITS 
CONVERSATIONS WITH SENIOR U-N OFFICIALS.  COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, 
FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER INGVAR CARLSSON SAYS ONLY THAT 
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE THE FIRST STEP IN AN 
INFORMATION-COLLECTION PROCESS THAT WILL LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
                      /// CARLSSON ACT ///
         THE TASK IS TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS 
         ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE U-N TO THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA.
         WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF
         THE EVENTS BEFORE AND DURING THE GENOCIDE AND WE WILL 
         HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE U-N RECORDS.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. CARLSSON SAYS THE INQUIRY IS INDEPENDENT, DESPITE THE FACT IT
HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED AND FUNDED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.  THE 
INQUIRY WILL ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH IF THE UNITED NATIONS COULD 
HAVE DONE MORE TO STOP THE 1994 GENOCIDE, IN WHICH UP TO ONE 
MILLION RWANDAN TUTSIS WERE KILLED.  IT IS EXPECTED TO STUDY THE 
ROLE PLAYED BY MR. ANNAN, WHO WAS HEAD OF U-N PEACEKEEPING AT THE
TIME, AS WELL AS THE ACTIONS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT JUST BEFORE THE GENOCIDE BEGAN, THE 
LEADER OF A U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN RWANDA INFORMED U-N 
HEADQUARTERS THAT ARMS WERE BEING STOCKPILED FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
MASS KILLINGS.  MR. ANNAN IS REPORTED TO HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE 
PERMISSION TO SEIZE THOSE WEAPONS.
MR. CARLSSON IS JOINED BY FORMER SOUTH KOREAN PRIME MINISTER HAN 
SUNG-JOO AND NIGERIAN MAJOR-GENERAL RUFUS KUPOLATI IN CARRYING 
OUT THE INQUIRY.  THEY SAY THEY WILL SPEND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS 
REVIEWING DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWING PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE 
UNITED NATIONS AT THE TIME.  THEY ALSO PLAN TO TRAVEL TO RWANDA 
FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BEFORE SUBMITTING THEIR REPORT TO MR. 
ANNAN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/SP
18-Jun-99 5:36 PM EDT (2136 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.