Kigali — French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner last week arrived in Kigali with a message of hope aimed at normalising relations that have been off since 2006. But it appears too early to call.

In a brief media conference after his arrival at Kigali International Airport, Kouchner said he was not in the country to deliver any apologies from his government regarding Paris' alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Dr. Kouchner who was on his way from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, instead stressed that his tour of the former French controlled state was to explore avenues for the restoration of ties, and encourage peaceful co-existence. He called for quick revival of the bilateral relations between the two countries which have worsened since the 1994 genocide in which an estimated one million Rwandans died.

Anglo Rwanda

France's interest in repairing the damaged relations comes at a time when French speaking Rwanda is increasingly leaning towards English-speaking East Africa.

Last year, the central Africa country joined the East African Community, initially a grouping of three former colonies of Great Britain. Rwanda is also seeking to join the Commonwealth, which brings together former British colonies.

It can be argued that these movements are strategic because of Rwanda's close association with English speaking neighbours like Tanzania and Uganda, but strained relations with France could also be a factor.

Kigali accuses France of supporting former president Juvenal Habyarimana's genocidal government. On November 24, 2006, Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Paris after a French judge, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, issued warrants for the arrest of nine aides of President Paul Kagame, accused of shooting down Habyarimana's plane, which sparked off the genocide. Kigali recalled its envoy to Paris and gave the French Ambassador 24 hours to leave Rwanda.

Cautious optimism

Dr. Kouchner now becomes the first French senior politician to visit Kigali since that diplomatic row in 2006.

"I cannot say the indictments have been withdrawn today because that's a French legal system matter to handle and takes a long legal procedure," Kouchner told journalists at the airport.

His Rwandan counterpart, Dr. Charles Murigande, expressed optimism that the talks with senior Rwandan officials may end with "average consensus" on most of the pressing issues.

Rwanda, Dr. Murigande said, was willing to create an enabling environment for the two partners to renew ties - provided France does not abuse this opportunity.

But Kouchner insisted that France had no role in the genocide and could not therefore apologise over what happened.

During a press conference after his meeting with President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, the French minister defended his country.

"It was certainly a political fault... We didn't understand what happened. But there was no military responsibility," he said, standing next to President Kagame who described him as a "good friend".

As co-founder of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Kouchner went to Rwanda several times during the genocide to help organise humanitarian corridors.

"As I was there, I remember very well," he said.

"I have never attacked the French army and I would never do so because [the genocide] was not its responsibility."

Although Rwanda lodged a complaint against France before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year, it has repeatedly said that it is not interested in carrying on the grudge with France.

Looking forward

Although all indications are that the two countries are still far off normalisation of ties, it's clear the relations are warming up.

In a meeting between Kagame and French President Nicolas Sarkozy last December, during the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal, the two leaders agreed to revive bilateral relations.

"We are looking forward and we want to get rid of the obstacles based on the mistakes of the past," Kagame said. This underlines the importance of the new French government in the improvement of diplomatic ties.

Rwanda's Minister of State for Regional Co-operation, Rosemary Museminali, welcomed Kouchner's first trip to Kigali, saying, "We hope this visit is an important step in normalising relations between the two countries." She added: "The present French authorities have demonstrated the will and we salute this gesture towards reviving co-operation."

French Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said later on that Kouchner's visit was part of the "process of progressive normalisation in our relations."