H.E. MR. HISASHI OWADA

Permanent Representative of Japan

At the Meeting of the Security Council on the Situation in Rwanda

9 April 1998

At the outset, let me express, on behalf of the delegation of Japan, my sincere sympathy to the people of Rwanda, who continue to experience grave hardship and suffering in the aftermath of the genocidal violence that swept through their country in 1994. We in the international community are very much conscious of the circumstances in which the response of the international community was inadequate in coping with the tragic situation that befell upon the innocent Rwandan people. It is the firm conviction of Japan that the international community, and the Security Council in particular, should never again allow such atrocities to be committed in Rwanda or, indeed, anywhere else.

In this context, it is a source of grave concern on the part of us in the international community that the illegal flow of arms into Rwanda, in violation of the embargo imposed by the Security Council with its resolutions 918, 997, and 1011, and throughout the Great Lakes region, would appear to be increasing towards critical level. If this flow of arms across Rwanda’s borders and into the hands of former government forces, other militia and other elements is left unchecked, there is a real danger that the old enmity which still remains within the population could find its outlet into an open confrontation, leading to a resurgence of armed conflict and seriously destabilizing the entire Great Lakes region.

The draft resolution before us attempts to address the problem of how effectively to prevent this by reactivating the International Commission of Inquiry. As Chairman of the Sanctions Committee under Security Council Resolution 918 on Rwanda, I welcome this decision. I believe the activities of the Commission will be crucial in shedding light on the situation, thereby helping the Council to determine just what concrete measures it could take to stem the illegal flow of arms in the region. The information it will gather can also be useful to the various UN organizations and agencies working to prevent a resurgence of violence in Rwanda and the Great Lakes region.

At the same time, my delegation finds it judicious that this resolution takes a carefully balanced approach, allowing the Commission to present to the Council its recommendations on measures related to the illegal flow of arms, without actually expanding the Commission’s mandate itself. For these reasons, my delegation will vote in favor of this draft resolution.

I wish to take this opportunity to state the belief of Japan that the international community should seriously consider the overall question of how to address the illegal flow of arms. Naturally, in view of the complex and sensitive nature of this issue, I should stress that it must be approached with utmost care, most appropriately, perhaps, within the context of our efforts to build a comprehensive framework for preventive strategy.

In closing, I should also like to state that the Government of Japan has contributed U.S. $40,000 to the trust fund to support the Commission’s activities, in the belief that they will make a significant contribution to the further stabilization of Rwanda and to the enhancement of regional peace and security. I hope that all UN Member States, and particularly those in the Great Lakes region, will extend their full and active cooperation to the Commission as it carries out its important work.

Thank you.