19266: Esser: Security Council deplores opposition's rejection of peacemaking plans (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

U.N. News Centre

Haiti: Security Council deplores opposition's rejection of peacemaking
plans

25 February 2004 – The United Nations Security Council today deplored
the Haitian opposition's rejection of proposals from two regional
organizations that could form the basis for a peaceful compromise
with President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to stem the Caribbean country's
violent political crisis.

In a press statement read by Council President Ambassador Wang
Guangya of China, both the Aristide Government and the opposition
were called on to accept and implement the provisions of the Plan of
Action of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of
American States (OAS).

"Implementation of the plan offers the best opportunity to restore
confidence and dialogue and for Haitians to resolve differences
peacefully, democratically and constitutionally," the President said.

Council members also called on the Government and the armed rebels to
respect human rights and stop using violence to advance political
goals.

"Those responsible for human rights violations should be held
accountable," Mr. Wang said.

Calling attention to the "serious humanitarian situation in Haiti,"
Council members called on all sides to facilitate the distribution of
food and medicine and to respect UN personnel involved in the
delivery of relief aid.

The presidential statement came after Under-Secretary-General Kieran
Prendergast briefed the Council in a closed-door session.

According to the text of his remarks, released to the press, Mr.
Prendergast noted that President Aristide had accepted in principle
the CARICOM-OAS plan, which also had the endorsement of France.
"President Aristide did so on condition that he would serve out his
current term in office, which concludes in 2006," he observed.

The UN continues to support CARICOM and the OAS and was "encouraged
by the interest and diplomatic initiatives of important Member
States," Mr. Prendergast said.

Recalling past UN bids to assist Haiti, however, he said, "We all
need to recognize that the help we have tried to give has not had the
desired effect."

"The events of February have shown us that Haiti requires a
long-term, sustained and broad engagement by the international
community," he added.

At the same time, Mr. Prendergast acknowledged that "there are
limitations to what the assistance of the international community can
accomplish."

"Fundamentally, it is the Haitian people who must chart a path out of
the current impasse and Haitians who must learn to conduct their
affairs in a fundamentally different way," he said. "Stability,
prosperity and good governance require them to show an ability to
compromise and share power."
.