{{President Francois Hollande of the Republic of France has invited Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame for an official visit to France this year. }}
The invitation was delivered by two senior French officials including;Thomas Mélonio Elysee and Jean- Christope Belliard Quai d’Orsay. Also in the message, President Holland regretted for not being able to attend the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
Commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide began, Wednesday, Feb. 26 in France. However, Rwanda accuses Paris of having played a role in the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s that claimed over a million lives.
In an exclusive interview, Rwanda’s envoy to France, Ambassador Jacques Kabale was hosted on Radio France international where he responded to several questions including; the ongoing trial in France of Rwandan genocide suspect Capt. Pascal Simbikangwa, Refusal of French Supreme court to allow extradition of three other Rwandan genocide suspects to be tried in Rwanda
RFI: {{Commemorating the genocide in a country like France, is it special? }}
Jacques Kabale: Absolutely. France, more than any other country, was close to Rwanda before the genocide, during the genocide and after the genocide. And many countries have made progress towards better management of the post-genocide of Tutsis.
There had to be people who were judged to be people who were extradited to Rwanda. Only for the case of France, twenty years later, this is the first judgment that is going on today with the trial of Mr. Simbikangwa.
{{Exactly twenty years later, is that it is not too late? You would have preferred that the trial takes place much earlier? }}
Of course. But it is never too late for justice. It’s late, really, but we believe that this step, the first step has been done by the French justice will be followed by other steps, since Pascal Simbikangwa is not the only one involved in the genocide in Rwanda.
There are many, and unfortunately we find many in France. I think today we can talk about France’s will. Not because there was this trial, but because before that genocide and crimes against humanity pole was set up. First by President Sarkozy and consolidated by Holland.
{{On Wednesday, the French Court of Cassation rejected the extradition of three Rwandans suspected of having participated in the genocide. Do you understand this decision? }}
This is an unfortunate decision because we expected and we were hoping that finally the French justice could begin to extradite to Rwanda genocide suspects. The United States has extradited to Rwanda. Canada, Norway, Sweden as well.
Besides the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and several African countries. This shows that other countries have faith in the Rwandan justice and do not hesitate to send these genocide suspects to the Rwanda.
France is still hesitating for reasons unknown to us. But we hope it will eventually extradite the genocide suspects for trial in Rwanda.
{{Last week, two senior French officials, Thomas Mélonio Elysee and Jean- Christope Belliard Quai d’Orsay, were received in Kigali by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo . What was the purpose of this meeting?}}
It was a message sent by President Francois Hollande to his Rwandan counterpart . President Hollande regretted not being able to attend the commemoration in Kigali on 7 April , but promised to send a high-level personality to Kigali to represent him .
This same message also included an invitation from President Holland for President Paul Kagame to come to France in 2014 for an official visit.
{{Is it possible to speak of a genuine rapprochement between France and Rwanda?}}
I believe that the combination had taken place in 2010 when the two countries have decided to reopen embassies and to visit each other. This is more than reconciliation or warming.
There is a real friendship that is being forged between France and Rwanda. But of course, the road is still long. But as there is willingness of both sides , I am confident for the future of our two countries.
Precisely the relations between France and Rwanda have long been saw tooth with very tense periods. Kigali has repeatedly accused France of having a role in the 1994 genocide. What are you still in France? Is what you expect apologies for example?
It’s still a wait. When President Sarkozy came to Rwanda , it was expected that there will be more commitment up to a pardon , clear apology. But the words spoken by President Sarkozy are very commendable, especially since we knew it was not easy at all for President Sarkozy to do.
Everyone did not agree with him. Ditto for Rwanda, everyone was not in favour of this recovery, that some felt fast, relations with France. So I think there havebeen efforts from both sides.
Rwanda is a country that looks to the future, which does not want to waste time rehearsing the past. It is a country that wants to move forward.
{{Among the bones of contention, there were court proceedings on the attack against the plane of former President Juvenal Habyarimana. President Kagame close aides are always accused in this case. What are the expectations of the Rwandan state vis-à -vis this procedure?}}
Rwanda has always maintained his innocence in this matter and Rwanda had denounced from the outset that it was a manipulation of justice by the French policy.
Another judge has replaced Judge Bruguiere , and the judge has taken a series of measures fully contradicting the arguments of Judge Bruguiere. And we are confident, but really calmly, that there will be a non- place that will be delivered. We believe.
kwezi@igihe.com
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