State Department Daily Press Briefing
DOCUMENT
U.S. Department of State on-camera daily briefing, excerpts on Africa;
briefer: Victoria Nuland, spokesperson:
QUESTION: Rwanda?
MS. NULAND: Yeah.
QUESTION: On Sunday, the State Department slipped out an email saying that
you were freezing military aid to Rwanda because of concerns about its
involvement in what is happening in the Congo. What evidence, other than the
UN report, does the United States have that the Rwandans are getting
involved in the rebellion in Congo?
MS. NULAND: Well, we obviously have information of our own which we share
with the UN as well. But the UN report, in our view, is quite comprehensive
and quite concerning.
QUESTION: And further to that, Stephen Rapp then suggested that there might
be consideration of war crimes prosecutions brought against Paul Kagame.
Would that be something that the U.S. is building a case for? Would that be
something that you would support?
MS. NULAND: Well, first of all, as we have repeatedly said to the Government
of Rwanda, we have deep concerns about Rwanda's support to the Congolese
rebel group that goes by the name M23. This was outlined and highlighted in
the UN Experts Group. Our immediate focus is on a cessation of violence in
eastern DRC and the end of outside support. We support regional cooperation
against armed groups, including joint military operations.
With regard to The Guardian interview given by Ambassador Rapp, what he was
trying to do was to underscore the importance of holding to account those
responsible for crimes against humanity - this is what he does all around
the world - and noting as a general principle that neighboring countries
have been held responsible in the past for cross-border support. He did not
call for any specific action in this particular case.
QUESTION: So there isn't any kind of investigation specifically into Paul
Kagame then, on the U.S. side, at the moment?
MS. NULAND: Again, we are continuing to watch this case very carefully and
to send public and private messages to the Government of Rwanda. I don't
have anything further beyond that.
All right?
QUESTION: No, wait. Staying there --
MS. NULAND: What - staying in Africa.
QUESTION: So last year, you may remember, there was the case of this Ugandan
Little League team that made the Little League World Series, and they were
denied visas because there were some discrepancies. It wasn't clear that
they had the proper birth certificates or proper proof of age, not only for
Little League but also to get a visa.
This year, a different Ugandan Little League team has qualified for the
Little League World Series, and yesterday the Little League headquarters in
Williamsport, Pennsylvania said that they will be getting visas and they
were - and that they expect the team to arrive on August 11th. I want to
know if you can confirm that the Little League team from Uganda got visas to
come to play in the Little League World Series.
MS. NULAND: You have stumped me, Matt. I will find out.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MS. NULAND: All right. Thanks, everybody.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:33 p.m.)
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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