18912: (Chamberlain) US-Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By GEORGE GEDDA

   WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (AP) -- Diplomats from the United States and other
countries presented to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Friday a
plan for political reform and a return to the rule of law, the State
Department said.
   The delegation also planned to deliver the proposal to opposition
leaders Friday.
   "It proposes a mechanism for achieving a political solution and a
peaceful resolution to the situation in Haiti," State Department spokesman
Adam Ereli said.
   The initiative reflects heightened international pressure to break the
stalemate between Aristide and his opponents after more than three weeks of
unrest that has included outbreaks of violence.
   Attending the meeting Friday morning were U.S. Ambassador James Foley
and representatives from the Organization of American States, the European
Union, the Caribbean Community (Caricom), France and Canada.
   The same countries will be represented on Saturday at separate meetings
with Aristide and his opponents. Roger Noriega, the top State Department
official for Western Hemisphere issues, will represent the United States.
   The group will discuss implementation of the proposal.
   Ereli said the plan is based largely on a Caricom proposal that was
presented to the parties weeks ago. He declined to discuss any changes in
the new proposal.
   "We see a body politic that's broken," Ereli said, calling for a
negotiation carried out in the spirit of compromise and the creation of a
broad-based government.