Letter to the Editor, in response to Andrew Wallis’ article on France’s policy vis-à-vis Rwanda in 1994, The Times, 7 December 2006

Sir,

In his column published in the "Times" of 5 December, Andrew Wallis levels unacceptable accusations against France’s policy vis-à-vis Rwanda in 1994.

France has done everything possible to determine the truth behind the tragic events which occurred in April 1994. A parliamentary fact-finding mission was created for this purpose. It looked into the issues in depth. Its conclusions, issued in 1998, reiterate that France acted not only in order to prevent the tragedy, but also to mobilize the international community to come to the aid of the genocide victims.

Similarly, France, who instigated the creation by the United Nations of the international criminal tribunals, has fully cooperated with the Tribunal for Rwanda.

As for her intervention in Rwanda, France has nothing to hide. She acted at the international community’s request. Moreover, she alone took the risk of intervening on the ground in a tragic situation. Thousands of lives were saved thanks to her action in the areas where her forces were deployed. The whole international community paid tribute to the humanitarian work carried out by her army.

For all these reasons, we categorically reject Mr Wallis’ defamatory insinuations.

The judge referred to in the article is acting at the request of the families of the French crew of former President Habyarimana’s plane, which was downed in 1994. As in all democratic States abiding by the rule of law, the judicial authority which instituted the legal proceedings is acting independently from the government.