12605: Senator Dodd calls for embargo's end (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

AHP August 1st, 2002 11:00 AM

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U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd calls for the United States to take on a leadership position by ending economic sanctions imposed against the Haitian people
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Washington, August 1st, 2002 -(AHP)- The American Senator Christopher Dodd called upon President george W. Bush Wednesday to lift economic sanctions imposed against the Haitian people since the time of the results of the legislative elections of May 21st, 2000.

Senator Dodd characterized as shameful the IDB's decision that it would freeze grants and loans to Haiti because of the fact that a political accord between the parties involved in the post-election dispute had not yet been signed.

According to the Democratic Senator, the efforts already made by the Haitian government to satisfy the demands of the opposition and of the international community are sufficient to warrant the unfreezing of the funds.

" These monies have been held hostage for too long a time. And the damage to the Haitian economy has been devastating"ir unavailability is causing considerable damage to the Haitian economy and to the disadvantaged sectors of the population", said the Senator.

Christopher Dodd severely criticized the intransigence of the Inter-American Development Bank which, because of its position, has become responsible for the suffering of a great many Haitians, although its primary obligation is to promote economic and social development in the hemisphere.

" It is time to stop playing politics with Haitian lives. The time has come to respond to the unfolding crisis in Haiti", argued Christopher Dodd.

He urged the Bush Administration to assume a leadership role in addressing the pressing needs of the Haitian people who can not wait any longer.