18741: Esser: Canada sending $ to Haiti - could send police (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

The Canadian Press
Tuesday, February 17, 2004


OTTAWA (CP) - Canada will contribute $1.15 million for food and
medical aid in Haiti and is prepared, under certain conditions, to
contribute civilian police to an international force in the
crisis-stricken island.

Aileen Carroll, minister of international co-operation, said $800,000
will go to the World Food Program and $350,000 to the Red Cross.
Haiti is in the grip of an uprising against the hard-fisted rule of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said Canada is pushing for a
political solution and is ready to send in about 100 police officers
to help stabilize such a settlement.

"I know there are calls for some kind of force to go in," he said.
"Clearly, that is only going to happen with the support of the
international community."

Graham said both sides on the island must compromise. He said
Aristide must accept some constraints on his behaviour and be willing
to work with the opposition, while his opponents must agree to work
toward elections.

"To stabilize the situation, a group of countries, including Canada,
is prepared to help."

.