8724: Haiti: Convergence leaders optimistic as talks progress (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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


Haiti: Convergence leaders optimistic as talks progress
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jul 16, 2001

Text of report by Haitian Metropole radio on 16 July

[Announcer] As noted, progress was made during the discussions between the
FL [Lavalas Family] and the opposition regarding the creation of a new
Provisional Electoral Council [CEP]. When the meeting at the Montana Hotel
ended yesterday, FL and Convergence leaders went together to meet the press
for the first time to announce that progress has been made. The Convergence
leaders seemed to be very optimistic about the conclusion of a political
agreement. They recognize that many more steps are to be made before
reaching the end result. Paul Denis and Micha Gaillard of the Convergence
said the following:

[Denis - recording, in Creole] We worked a lot during the weekend and we
certainly made some progress. We agreed on some important points such as the
committee that should guarantee a secure environment for the elections,
international cooperation for the process and the security issue. We still
have some important points such as the mandate issue and the issue of a
political and administrative environment. They are sensitive issues that
require a lot of attention and we discussed them for a long time. We noted
the points we agreed on, and other points on which we have not yet reached
an agreement. We decided to continue to work in a framework of transparency
after the departure of [Organization of American States (OAS)
Secretary-General] Cesar Gaviria, to continue and deepen the discussions so
that we may reach a compromise on the basis of a political agreement as soon
as possible.

[Unidentified journalist] How long it is going to take?

[Denis] We are going to work and we have decided to do our best to resolve
the crisis.

[Gaillard] Today we commit ourselves to work without having to depend on
when the OAS have an opportunity to come to Haiti to get something done. But
starting tomorrow [Monday 16 July] and very soon we will meet among us
Haitians, Lavalas and Convergence, to continue with the discussions to see
what solution can be made regarding the points where there are problems.
This is a qualitative step towards the seeking of a solution to get the
country out of the crisis. [End of recording]

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 16 Jul 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC