07 April 2004
Secretary Powell and Haitian Prime Minister Discuss Haiti's Future
Leaders stress the need for security, jobs, anti-corruption measures
Declaring that he came to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince "to demonstrate support for Haiti," Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Haiti's interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue on April 5 to discuss U.S. and international assistance efforts to help the Caribbean nation recover from its recent political crisis.
After their private meeting, Powell and Latortue held a joint press conference to brief reporters on the themes of their talks. "Our purpose is to help ... the leadership of Haiti make a new beginning and to build a future of hope to the Haitian people," said Powell. "I look forward to meeting with President [Boniface] Alexandre later today and to thank him for the important role that he played in preserving constitutional order, following the resignation and the departure of [former] President [Bertrand] Aristide."
Recalling that "only six weeks ago, Haiti was on the verge of total security collapse" as armed rebels clashed in the streets with Aristide supporters, Powell praised the new Haitian president for playing "an historical role in assuming constitutional responsibilities as the interim president of Haiti," while also expressing "admiration and thanks to the prime minister for his willingness to step forward and serve his people at this time of crisis, at this time of challenge."
During his discussions with Latortue, Powell said, "we talked about the ending of corruption and putting in place someone and a committee that will go after those who are guilty of corruption to make sure that it does not occur in the future government" of Haiti. Additionally, the two leaders "talked about truth and reconciliation" to bridge the divisions among Haiti's people, and "we talked about what has to be done to get Haiti's economy started again and to create jobs, and we also talked about the important job needed to put the country back on a constitutional footing completely with new elections in 2005," Powell explained.
The issue of curbing violence and restoring order is a primary concern, according to both men. Citing "the importance of getting guns off the streets, ... [and] getting guns out of the hands of thugs and criminals," Powell warned that "without disarmament, Haiti's democracy will remain at risk." Therefore, "we call on all armed groups to lay down their weapons and allow the duly constituted authorities to impose the rule of law," he said.
For his part, Latortue noted that the interim government in Haiti is "totally against violence," and he emphasized that "there is no access to political process or power" by Haitians "through use of gangs or any violence."
Because of the current disorder in Haiti, Latortue said, the country may be vulnerable to other forms of criminal activity, as well -- including terrorism. He and Powell "talked among ourselves about other security issues such as the airport and [the possibility] of terrorism," he added. "We talked with the United States government also about taking steps and measures against narcotics trafficking and money laundering. We also asked the United States and its armed forces to help us in other civic duties such as garbage cleaning-up, road construction," and so forth.
Powell pledged that the Bush administration will do all it can to help Haiti regain its footing. "We plan to spend $55 million in economic and humanitarian assistance in Haiti during this fiscal year," he observed. "And we will be working with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to get Haiti resources that it needs so badly. We know that the European Union and other friendly nations around the world are eager to contribute to Haiti's development," also.
"Today, the Haitian people have a chance for a new beginning," Powell said. "On behalf of President Bush and the American people, I urge the proud people of Haiti to live together in peace. Seize this new chance to put your country firmly on the path of democracy and prosperity."
Following is a transcript of the Powell/Latortue joint press conference in Port-au-Prince, Haiti:
(begin transcript)
Visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell to Haiti
Press Conference with Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
April 5, 2004
REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER GERARD LATORTUE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
LATORTUE: I am very happy that we are all here today to welcome Secretary of State Colin Powell this morning and I'm glad that you are all here so that we can wish him together a happy birthday because it is his birthday today.
We just had a face-to-face talk together, and we covered three main issues that basically comprised the interface between the United States and Haiti. The first question that we discussed was the security issue. The police issue revolves around new training for police officers as well as employing new personnel and basically finding new equipment for the police force.
We must emphasize that the real security issue for us is the violence. We are asking that people in armed gangs refrain from using them [weapons]; there is no access to political process or power through use of gangs or any violence. And we are totally against violence. We talked among ourselves about other security issues such as the airport and terrorism.
We agreed that Haiti was not a country with much order or much law, and therefore that terrorists could easily take over the space, the facilities or the country itself to carry out their terrorist acts. We talked with the United States government also about taking steps and measures against narcotics trafficking and money laundering. We also asked the United States and its armed forces to help us in other civic duties such as garbage cleaning-up, road construction, and other civic form of activities.
I gave the secretary of state an economic briefing on the state of affairs regarding the economy in Haiti. The country is in a state of total bankruptcy and totally destroyed. The state is totally demolished. The guys that were there before left the country with absolutely nothing. The situation left by those who were there before is absolutely total bleak. They left nothing behind. including the contents of the vaults of the Central Bank. They cleaned up everything as though they were an army running away.
While discussing economics affairs, I also asked the secretary of state for assistance in some of the most urgent tasks at hand -- particularly, creating opportunities and economic jobs in desperate areas such as Cite Soleil, La Saline, La Fossette, Saint Helene and all these very impoverished areas of the main cities. We are also awaiting the decision of the international donors to assist us in these places.
We talked about the private sector's interests in the Hero Act. The Hero Act is a project that favors, in fact, some activities of the private sector. The last thing that we talked about regarding the economic aspects of our cooperation is corruption. We intend to establish an anti-corruption unit within the administration.
The third thing we discussed is the democratic process and how it is going on in Haiti today. I was happy that last night, I was the first to sign a convention with the political parties and the civil society groups, an agreement on how this process should go on, go forward.
Secretary Powell is the first person who I told about this, because we just signed this agreement last night. And I told him that right after Easter, we will be setting up the Provisional Electoral Council, right after Easter. One of the things we assured the secretary of state is that whether you were a former official, minister, or state secretary, in the present government you will not be allowed to participate in the political process coming up.
We have also agreed that no one in this government or in the former government will participate in this administration as long as they have not renounced violence, the use of guns, and corruption.
Another aspect of the document that we signed yesterday with the other parties and the civil society was the length of the transitional term of this government.
Everyone agreed that all elections consisting of the electoral process will take place during the year 2005, that is, municipal elections, legislative elections and presidential elections.
Some people believe that 15 days after the elections of the president, he should take office. Others think, "no, we must follow the constitution and have the president take office on the 7th of February, 2006."
One of the four most important points that we discussed, the secretary and myself, was putting an end to corruption. That's number one. I have discussed with the secretary of state the forthcoming meeting on the 22nd of April with the other donors that will be involved in the assistance effort for Haiti. We will also set the date for the meeting of the donor countries by June of this year. One of the things we are going to put in place in this government is a Commission of Truth, Reconciliation and Justice, as it has occurred in South Africa when Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela were part of that committee. The last point is the Provisional Electoral Council. It will have set up by then, so that it will begin work right after it is established in early April.
Thank you.
REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL
POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, for hosting me today. On behalf of President Bush and the American people, I come to Port-au-Prince to demonstrate support for Haiti.
Our purpose is to help the people on the leadership of Haiti make a new beginning and to build a future of hope to the Haitian people. I look forward to meeting with President Alexandre later today and to thank him for the important role that he played in preserving constitutional order, following the resignation and the departure of President Aristide.
It was only six weeks ago, Haiti was on the verge of total security collapse. On that last week, end of February, I believe, we prevented a bloodbath from happening. President Alexandre played an historical role in assuming constitutional responsibilities as the interim president of Haiti. I want to express my admiration and thanks to the prime minister for his willingness to step forward and serve his people at this time of crisis, at this time of challenge.
As you heard from the prime minister, we had a very full and comprehensive discussion and I am impressed by the commitment that he has brought to his task. We talked about the ending of corruption and putting in place someone and a committee that will go after those who are guilty of corruption to make sure that it does not occur in the future government.
He noted we talked about truth and reconciliation. We talked about what has to be done to get Haiti's economy started again and to create jobs, and we also talked about the important job needed to put the country back on a constitutional footing completely with new elections in 2005. And I also said to the prime minister on the course of our discussion that I will be working hard to reintegrate Haiti into the CARICOM community in the months ahead. I assured the prime minister that all the issues that he has mentioned to you today, the United States will be providing him full support.
I want to take this occasion to thank our partners of the Multinational Force, France, Canada and Chile -- thank them for their swift and human response to the needs of the Haitian people. We will be hard at work in the weeks ahead with the United Nations to put in place a peacekeeping force that will eventually replace the Multinational Force.
To support the political process that the prime minister touched down a minute ago, I am pleased to announce today the release of $9 million to the OAS Special Mission with the purpose of strengthening democracy in Haiti. I also want to endorse again what the president said -- that service in the Haitian government, including in its security forces and participation in the political process, should be opened to all Haitians who reject violence and are committed to democracy.
We also discussed the importance of getting guns off the streets, in the villages, getting guns out of the hands of thugs and criminals, because without disarmament, Haiti's democracy will remain at risk. We call on all armed groups to lay down their weapons and allow the duly constituted authorities to impose the rule of law.
In the United States, we will do everything we can in the months ahead to help the interim government. We plan to spend $55 million in economic and humanitarian assistance in Haiti during this fiscal year. And we will be working with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to get Haiti resources that it needs so badly. We know that the European Union and other friendly nations around the world are eager to contribute to Haiti's development. Today, the Haitian people have a chance for a new beginning. On behalf of President Bush and the American people, I urge the proud people of Haiti to live together in peace. Seize this new chance to put your country firmly on the path of democracy and prosperity.
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
PRESS CONFERENCE
PEGGY JEAN, RADIO CARAIBES: The American authorities have set forward the idea, the possibility of prosecuting or bringing to justice the former president. Should the investigation reveal that Mr. Aristide was tied to drugs, will you expedite extradition for him to stand charges?
POWELL: There are inquiries being made by our judicial authorities in the United States to see if there is any evidence of wrongdoing on his part. I will have to wait until our legal authorities and our investigators are finished before offering any comment on whether he might be charged with anything or what action the Haitian government might take. My principal focus and the principal focus of the United States government are on the future, not on the past.
QUESTION: Did you seek assurances from the prime minister that criminal elements and human rights violators would be prosecuted?
POWELL: The prime minister offered those assurances at the very beginning of our conversation, and I was pleased to receive them.
QUESTION: Was it a discussion of names of people that could be excluded?
POWELL: I am sure that as we go forward, any names that are known to us of individuals involved in wrongdoing or acts of violence will be made known to the Haitian government.
QUESTION: According to the Haitian Constitution, the elections are to be performed in 90 days. And the prime minister said that elections would be held in 2005. What is the position of the United States regarding the elections? And from the response that you have gotten from the international force, which feedback, which information that you have gotten from them during the time they have been here, which is about a month?
LATORTUE: I think you all have heard what I said. It was a political agreement that was signed last night. And all the parties agree that the elections cannot be held within the next 90 days.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what is your response to CARICOM's position regarding the departure and resignation of former President Aristide? What is your reaction to that?
POWELL: I don't think any purpose would be served by such an inquiry, but the facts are very well known. On that evening, the situation was deteriorating rapidly in the country, especially in Port-au-Prince. We were on the verge of a bloodbath, and President Aristide found himself in great danger. He got in touch with our ambassador, and arrangements were made at his request for him to depart the country. He drafted, wrote, signed his letter of resignation all by himself and then voluntarily departed with his wife and his own personal security force. And we were able to provide transportation for him to depart, and now I think it is important for all of us to focus on what the Haitian people need now.
Did I get it all?
I am sorry. I think the prospects are good for international contributions to the peacekeeping force. I've had a number of countries which expressed interest in providing peacekeepers, and the U.N. peacekeeping team has been here to examine the situation and is writing the report back to New York now to the authorities.
Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
