19225: (Chamberlain) Aristide says he will quit in 2006 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

(Trinidad Guardian, 3 Feb 04)


Aristide vows to get out of politics in 2006

By RIA TAITT


Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide has given Caricom leaders his word
that his involvement in politics would come to an end when his term of
office expires in February 2006.

Neither he nor his wife would seek to run as candidates in the presidential
elections due in November 2005. Aristide has also accepted the Caricom
recommendation that he immediately seek to appoint a new government with a
neutral prime minister, according to the Caricom terms outlined in a
meeting between the Haitian president and  four Caricom leaders in Jamaica
this weekend.

The group met for over two hours for talks aimed at finding a solution to
the political turmoil in that country. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who
was one of the four leaders, said Caricom had also given Aristide a
one-week deadline to release political detainees. And by the end of this
month, his government must establish proper rules for demonstrations,
including a condition that demonstrators arrested should be processed
within 48 hours, Manning said.

Speaking at a news conference at Port-of-Spain yesterday, Manning stated
that while Caricom did not tell Aristide that there would be sanctions if
he failed to live up to the agreement, there was a distinct “possibility”
that sanctions would be applied in such circumstances. Though, he added,
there was every reason to believe that sanctions would not be necessary. He
said when Caricom leaders meet in March for an Intersession meeting, an
update would be presented on  the Haitian situation and they would decide
then if “further action”  (sanctions) is necessary.

The Prime Minister said the discussions in Kingston centred around the
confidence-building measures aimed at securing a return to normalcy in
Haiti. Today, a Caricom team lead by the Foreign Minister of Bahamas goes
to Haiti to discuss with the Opposition the agreement which was hammered
out on Saturday.  Manning reiterated yesterday that military intervention
in Haiti was not an option.