26 June 2003
U.S. Questions Haiti's Commitment to Climate of Security
("Deeply disappointed" by resignation of national police chief) (890)
While the United States initially regarded the appointment of a new
Director General of the Haitian National Police as a potential step
toward creating the climate of security necessary to resolve Haiti's
ongoing political crisis, Jean Robert Fauveur's resignation two weeks
after his appointment and his decision to leave Haiti call into
question the Haitian government's commitment to creating a climate of
security, says Roger Noriega, U.S. permanent representative to the
Organization of American States (OAS).
In a June 26 statement before the OAS Permanent Council, Noriega said
the United States is "deeply disappointed" by Faveur's resignation and
views the charges of political interference made in his letter of
resignation as "very serious and troubling." Faveur said he resigned
on June 22 because of the Haitian government's efforts to undermine
the autonomy of his office.
Noriega added that Faveur's decision to leave Haiti raises questions
about the government's commitment to creating a climate of security.
"One must ask, in all seriousness, if the government of Haiti cannot
create a secure climate for the Chief of its National Police, how can
it be said to be making strides toward security for anyone else in the
country, particularly the democratic opposition to the ruling party?"
Noriega asked.
Noriega noted that the government of Haiti has accepted the OAS's call
for a professional and independent police force, and he called upon
Haiti to comply with this obligation. He said that professional police
leadership is one of the "elements essential for a democratic
resolution of Haiti's political impasse."
If the government of Haiti has not created a climate of security
conducive to the creation of a credible electoral council by September
2003, the OAS will re-evaluate its role in Haiti.
Following is the text of Noriega's statement, as prepared for
delivery:
(begin text)
Statement on Haiti of U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS
Ambassador Roger F. Noriega to the Permanent Council Meeting
June 26, 2003
Just two weeks ago in Santiago, the General Assembly reaffirmed the
vitality of Permanent Council Resolution 822, and urged the Government
of Haiti to complete its obligations under that resolution and the
points presented to it by the high-level OAS/CARICOM delegation. At
that time, the June 2 letter from the Convergence Democratique to the
Chair of the Permanent Council had not been distributed. That letter
stated that "after evaluating any specific measures that Mr. Aristide
takes to restore, as soon as possible, a climate of trust in Haiti,"
it was prepared to fulfill its commitments under the framework of the
draft Initial Accord and name a representative to the Provisional
Electoral Council. We welcome this statement on the part of the
opposition.
At the same time, the United States is looking ahead to the September
assessment of the Special Mission called for by AG/RES 1959, mindful
that Secretary of State Colin Powell invited our partners in this
Organization to reevaluate the role of the OAS if the Haitian
government has not created by that time a climate of security
conducive to the creation of a credible, neutral, and independent
Provisional Electoral Council.
As my delegation stated in Santiago, the United States viewed the
appointment of a new Director General of the Haitian National Police
as a potentially positive step toward creating that climate of
security. Our delegation noted that the new Director General must be
permitted independence of action to be truly effective in developing a
professional and trustworthy police force. General Assembly resolution
AG/RES 1959 also noted the appointment in a positive light.
The United States was, therefore, deeply disappointed to learn that
the new Director General, Jean Robert Faveur, resigned on June 22, a
mere two weeks after his appointment. The charges of political
interference made in his letter of resignation are very serious and
troubling. Mr. Faveur has made public documentation of efforts by the
Haitian government which he says were intended to undermine the
autonomy of his office, specifically by removing his authority over
the police budget and ordering him to appoint and promote officers
unqualified in his judgment.
Moreover, we understand that Mr. Faveur has chosen to leave Haiti,
along with his family. One must ask, in all seriousness, if the
government of Haiti cannot create a secure climate for the Chief of
its National Police, how can it be said to be making strides toward
security for anyone else in the country, particularly the democratic
opposition to the ruling party?
Mr. Chairman, these actions, once again, call into question the good
faith of the Haitian government in meeting commitments made to the
OAS, especially the creation of a climate of security. The government
of Haiti has accepted the OAS's call for a professional and
independent police force, and it must comply with this obligation and
others set forth in OAS resolutions. The United States strongly
believes that professional police leadership, free of interference, is
just one of the elements essential for a democratic resolution of
Haiti's political impasse.
Mr. Chairman, in light of the recent developments, my delegation will
be consulting with other delegations to seek their views on next
steps. While we have been going the extra mile, it appears we are
walking in place and making no lasting progress.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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