8333: Radio Signal FM: Convergence spokesman says what occurred in meeting with OAS official (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Convergence spokesman says what occurred in meeting with OAS official
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 16, 2001

Text of report by Haitian Signal FM radio on 15 June

After hours of discussions, OAS Assistant Secretary-General Luigi Einaudi
did not manage to convince the Convergence members of [the validity of] the
latest OAS resolution on the Haitian crisis. On the contrary, the
Convergence leaders told Einaudi that they were sorry about this resolution,
which will bring nothing to the Haitian people and will serve as an
opportunity for the Lavalas regime to do whatever it wants.

This resolution does not benefit the Haitian people, according to statements
by Convergence spokesman Hubert de Ronceray.

[De Ronceray - recording] Yes, for nearly 145 minutes OAS Assistant
Secretary-General Luigi Einaudi met the directorate of the Convergence to
clarify and provide additional information on the resolution adopted by the
OAS in Costa Rica on 5 June on the Haitian post-electoral crisis. Einaudi
re-read the speech delivered by Gaviria at the opening ceremony of the 31st
Assembly [the General Assembly of the OAS]. He also reviewed some points of
the resolution.

He tried to show that the OAS has an objective, critical and responsible
attitude towards the Haitian crisis, that the OAS is looking for a flexible
solution and that the OAS is trying to facilitate the participation of the
Convergence.

The discussions focused on three major themes. First, the worries that we in
the Convergence have, because we have seen that the OAS has adopted the five
points stated in the letter that Jean-Bertrand Aristide sent to the chairman
of the General Assembly. We also said that we have seen that the OAS is
taking steps to release funds that will strengthen the dictatorship. We also
said that we fear that a Provisional Electoral Council [CEP] created by the
Lavalas regime may resume plunging the country into more problems, disorders
and nominations, as usual, because Lavalas does not know how to hold
elections. It only knows how to make nominations.

Einaudi responded by telling us that the OAS resolution clearly states that
they have acknowledged Aristide's letter but it does not say that this
letter has been approved. Einaudi added that, if real progress is made, and
the secretary-general, who has been mandated to assess the continuing work,
notes such progress, then they can consider releasing funds on a progressive
basis.

Regarding the formation of the electoral council on 21 June, we in the
Convergence told Einaudi that, contrary to the accusations being brought
against the Convergence by many people, it is not true that the Convergence
does not want to be part of the CEP. It is not at all true that the
Convergence has a rigid attitude. That is far from the truth! The rigidity
does not come from the Convergence. It comes from Lavalas. We say yes to a
CEP, but not the way they say they are going to do it, because we believe
that a credible, independent and neutral electoral council cannot be formed
in that way.

Therefore, we told the OAS to assume its responsibilities and to convene
immediately a meeting between Lavalas, the Convergence and civil society at
the rector's office of Haiti State University so that we can study how the
CEP will be formed, what mandate it will have and what security it will have
to work and to hold good elections. This is roughly what happened in our
meeting with Einaudi.

Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole 1230 gmt 15 Jun 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.