Rwanda lukewarm on reconciliation with France
KIGALI, April 20 (Reuters) - Rwanda's President Paul Kagame showed little interest on Friday for a post-election resumption of diplomatic ties with France that were cut last year in a row over responsibility for the 1994 genocide.
The ball will be in Paris' court, whoever wins the presidency, Kagame said when asked about the possible impact of Sunday's first round ballot in France.
"During the genocide, there was a socialist government under (Francois) Mitterrand. Afterwards, there were conservatives under (Jacques) Chirac," he told reporters.
"One would have assumed things to be different but as far as we know, nothing changed -- it has been the same outlook, the same agenda on Rwanda."
Kigali broke ties with Paris in November in protest at a French judge's call for Kagame to stand trial over the killing of a former leader, the event which unleashed the 100-day massacre of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Former rebel leader Kagame, and other critics, accuse Paris of covering up its role in training soldiers who carried out the massacre and propping up the Hutu leaders who unleashed them.
France denies that, saying its forces helped protect people.
Kagame said his government would only talk to France if the initiative came from France.
"Our approach will depend on what comes out of France. The ball is in their court, they hold the key to solving the problem," he said. "They can choose between the two options, to have a relationship with us or not have one at all. Any of these two suits me fine."
The ball will be in Paris' court, whoever wins the presidency, Kagame said when asked about the possible impact of Sunday's first round ballot in France.
"During the genocide, there was a socialist government under (Francois) Mitterrand. Afterwards, there were conservatives under (Jacques) Chirac," he told reporters.
"One would have assumed things to be different but as far as we know, nothing changed -- it has been the same outlook, the same agenda on Rwanda."
Kigali broke ties with Paris in November in protest at a French judge's call for Kagame to stand trial over the killing of a former leader, the event which unleashed the 100-day massacre of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Former rebel leader Kagame, and other critics, accuse Paris of covering up its role in training soldiers who carried out the massacre and propping up the Hutu leaders who unleashed them.
France denies that, saying its forces helped protect people.
Kagame said his government would only talk to France if the initiative came from France.
"Our approach will depend on what comes out of France. The ball is in their court, they hold the key to solving the problem," he said. "They can choose between the two options, to have a relationship with us or not have one at all. Any of these two suits me fine."
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