Meaning: The quote "Rwanda was considered a second-class operation; because it was a small country, we had been able to maintain a kind of status quo. They were negotiating, they'd accepted the new peace project, so we were under the impression that everything would be solved easily." by Boutros Ghali, a public servant, reflects the international community's neglect and underestimation of the situation in Rwanda prior to the 1994 genocide. The quote sheds light on the lack of attention and urgency given to the escalating tensions and conflicts in Rwanda, ultimately contributing to one of the most tragic and devastating genocides in modern history.

Boutros Ghali's statement highlights the perception of Rwanda as a "second-class operation" due to its small size and seemingly manageable issues. The characterization of Rwanda as a secondary concern reflects the dismissive attitude of the international community towards the country's internal strife. This attitude allowed the situation in Rwanda to be overlooked and underestimated, ultimately leading to catastrophic consequences.

The quote also touches upon the notion that the international community believed that the conflict in Rwanda could be easily resolved. This perception of the situation as solvable and manageable further demonstrates the lack of understanding and awareness of the deep-rooted tensions and complexities within Rwandan society. The underestimation of the challenges and the belief in an easy resolution ultimately contributed to the insufficient response and intervention from the international community as the crisis unfolded.

It is important to understand the context in which this quote was made. In the early 1990s, Rwanda was facing increasing ethnic and political tensions between the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi populations. The peace process and negotiations mentioned in the quote refer to the Arusha Accords, a peace agreement aimed at ending the civil war and establishing a power-sharing arrangement between the Hutu-led government and the Tutsi-led rebel forces. However, the international community's perception of these negotiations as a sign of progress and stability did not reflect the underlying issues and deep-seated animosities that would eventually lead to the genocide.

The consequences of the international community's neglect and underestimation of the situation in Rwanda were tragically realized in 1994 when the country descended into a brutal genocide. The failure to recognize and intervene in the mounting tensions and warning signs in Rwanda resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and irreparable damage to the social fabric of the country.

In conclusion, Boutros Ghali's quote serves as a poignant reminder of the international community's failure to adequately address and respond to the crisis in Rwanda. It underscores the dangerous consequences of neglecting and underestimating conflicts, especially in smaller or less prominent nations. The quote encapsulates the tragic reality of Rwanda's descent into genocide and serves as a sobering lesson on the importance of taking conflicts seriously and responding with urgency and empathy, regardless of the size or perceived significance of the affected country.