18795: (Chamberlain) UN-Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By EDITH M. LEDERER

   UNITED NATIONS, Feb 18 (AP) -- The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday
threw its weight behind Caribbean and Latin American efforts aimed at
peacefully resolving the political crisis in Haiti that has driven the
impoverished island to the brink of chaos.
   A statement approved by the 15-member council condemned the increasing
violence and "massive violations of human rights" in Haiti and strongly
supported the initiatives by the Caribbean Community and the Organization
of American States to end the crisis.
   Opponents are trying to topple Haiti's elected but unpopular president,
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and have taken control of several key cities during
a 12-day-old insurrection that has left dozens dead. The 15-nation
Caribbean bloc, known as CARICOM, and the OAS have been trying to initiate
a dialogue between Aristide and the opposition.
   The Security Council called on Aristide's government and the opposition
"to restore confidence and dialogue, and overcome their differences
peacefully and democratically through constitutional means."
   Chile's U.N. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, who pushed for the council
statement, said there has been no discussion of sending a U.N. peacekeeping
force to end the violence.
   The United States, which in 1994 dispatched 20,000 troops to Haiti to
help restore democracy, is pushing for a political solution.
   U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Washington strongly backed the
council statement.
   France has been trying to determine whether there is support for an
intervention force to help restore order.