RWANDA/UGANDA: US PRESIDENT CLINTON VISIT UPDATE (2)
(25 Mar 1998) English/Nat Seven African leaders signed a commitment with U-S President Bill Clinton in Uganda on Wednesday to deepen respect for human rights as the shared "birthright of all men and women everywhere." Among the leaders at the summit were Congo's President Laurent Kabila and Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi. Both have been criticised by the U-S for human rights abuses and for failing to make democratic reforms. Earlier in the day, Clinton visited Rwanda and said the world didn't act quickly enough when the horrors of the 1994 massacre in Rwanda emerged. Clinton returned to Uganda on Wednesday for a summit of regional leaders as part of his 12-day Africa tour - the longest by a U-S president. He and seven African leaders signed a commitment to deepen respect for human rights. Clinton said the leaders also agreed to work to banish genocide from the continent and bring murderers to justice. After the official signing ceremony, Clinton urged African leaders to give their people more freedom. SOUNDBITE: (English) "First we have agreed to deepen our efforts to promote democracy in respect for human rights. The precious soil in which peace and prosperity grow. When men and women alike are treated with dignity, when they have a say in decisions that affect their lives. Societies are better equipped to cease the opportunities of the future. We have emphasised the importance of freely elected, accountable governments. Affirmed the vital role of civic organisations in building strong and vibrant societies and pledged to uphold humanitarian principles, including the protection and care of refugees." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President Two of the leaders, Congo President Laurent Kabila and Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, have been criticised by the U-S for human rights abuses and for failing to make democratic reforms. Clinton's message to the African leaders was that they must learn to work together. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Here today, and this is very important, we have pledged to find new ways to work together, to solve conflicts before they explode into crisis and to act to stop them more quickly when they do." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President Clinton also said he would send aid packages to the African continent. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I am very pleased that our overseas private investment corporation will be targeting half a billion dollars for infrastructure investment in sub-Saharan Africa." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President Earlier in the day, Clinton made a three-hour visit to Rwanda where he did not leave Kigali airport. The three-hour stop caused some Rwandans to feel that they were being neglected. But Clinton did meet relatives of genocide victims, and was given a standing ovation by the audience waiting for him at the airport. He conceded that the international community did not move quickly enough when evidence surfaced of the massacre in 1994, and did not prevent killers from seeking safe haven in U-N refugee camps. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We did not act quickly enough after the killing began, we should not have allowed the refugee camps to become safe haven for the killers. We did not immediately call these crimes by their right name - genocide." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President The Clinton administration has said the international community failed to stop the Hutu extremists from killing more than half a (m) million minority group Tutsis and Hutu moderates. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
