8407: Highlights of Radio Metropole news (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 20 Jun 01
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 21, 2001

"The Morning News"; figures in brackets show the time elapsed since the
start of the programme

1. [00] Headlines.

2. [04] Discussions between the Lavalas Family and the Convergence have
taken place for the last two days at the Montana Hotel in the presence of
the Civil Society Initiative Group, GISC. They are discussing the formation
of the new Provisional Electoral Council, CEP, and the crisis in general.
This exploratory meeting ended yesterday. The delegates from the Democratic
Convergence will submit a report to the administrative staff before deciding
to resume the talks. Paul Denis, one of the Convergence delegates, said the
Convergence's position has not changed. They call for a global agreement
that will include the formation of a credible CEP to hold the next
elections.

3. [07] The Lavalas Family deplores the lack of commitment by the
Convergence representatives. The ruling party calls attention to the 25 June
deadline that was set by the OAS for the formation of an independent and
neutral CEP. Lavalas spokesman Jonas Petit said that the continuation of the
discussions depends on the Democratic Convergence. It should be noted that
the government was represented by Foreign Minister Joseph Philippe Antonio.

4. [10] The Assembly of Progressive National Democrats, RDNP, which is a
member of the Democratic Convergence, has maintained its distance with
regard to this new round [preceding word in English] of negotiations. In a
communique signed yesterday by RDNP Secretary-General Leslie Manigat, the
RDNP said that the OAS resolution is unacceptable. RDNP said it fears a
repetition of the 6 March 1999 agreement in a new and constraining context.
Manigat rejects all improvisation and, meanwhile, reserves the right to act
until the matter is settled.

5. [11] The OAS Secretary-General has designated his special representative
in Haiti. Cesar Gaviria has chosen former Mexican Ambassador to Haiti Sergio
Romero Cuevas to occupy that post. Ambassador Romero will take up his post
on 1 July. He will be responsible for assuring the follow-up of the OAS
commitment towards Haiti and will also be the director of the Office of the
OAS General Secretariat in Haiti. Romero speaks French and English, as well
as Spanish. He has represented Mexico in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Paraguay.

6. [12] The Democratic Convergence denounces the murder of two of its
members in Delmas. The Democratic Consultation Group [Espace], which is a
member of the Convergence, also condemns the incarceration of about 10 of
its members in the Delmas police station. The Convergence asks for the
release of Joseph Jean-Baptiste, a spokesman for the demobilized soldiers,
who has been detained in the Delmas police station since 15 June.

7. [14] Ads.

8. [18] Opinion poll.

9. [19] The General Directorate of Taxes [DGI] is ready to apply the
measures taken to force owners of certain businesses to pay back income tax.
The DGI announces it has frozen the bank accounts of seven companies as from
today. It warns all businesses that owe more than 5,000 gourdes to the
state.

10. [22] The Lavalas Chamber of Deputies is being torn apart. A group of
parliamentarians contest the competence of the office led by Pierre Paul
Cotin. As a result, the budget bill for fiscal year 2000-2001 has been
blocked in the chamber.

11. [27] About 360 of the 7,000 high school students who were prevented from
taking the official state exams this year have been accepted after the
minister of national education reconsidered their case.

12. [30] Road traffic police have been deployed on the roads to ensure
security. This announcement was made by the director of transport, Evens
Pierre Saintune. This measure is within the framework of the plan of action
for the summer season that presented last week by the Ministry of Justice
and Public Security.

13. [33] Ads, followed by international news.

14. [46] News summary, followed by ads.

15. [52] Economic segment by Kesner Pharel.

16. [56] Humor segment by Francois Latour.

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 20 Jun 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.