In an interview with VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ the Belgian Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone socialist) said that Belgium has called on the EU and others to take measures to put pressure on Rwanda.
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Belgian Foreign Minister intends to increase pressure on Rwanda: “Business as usual not an option for Belgium”
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The Rwandan government supports the M23 paramilitary group in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “This escalation of hostilities is totally unacceptable and has appalling humanitarian consequences. The message must be that the violence must stop and that talks must start up again”.
Among other things, Mr Quintin is looking at the possibility of sanctions against Rwanda, as well as a review of development aid programmes in the country. “But we have to be careful: we want to put pressure on the leaders, but we have to spare the population at large.” Nevertheless, “Belgium cannot just do business as usual with Rwanda”.
The Belgian Foreign Minister concluded by saying that an announcement on what measures Belgium intends to take will be made in the next few days.