19264: Esser: U.N. Security Council Statements on Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

UN News Centre
Feb. 26th 2004

Press Release
SC/8011

FOLLOWING ARE SUMMARIES OF STATEMENTS IN TODAY’S SECURITY COUNCIL
MEETING ON THE SITUATION IN HAITI.  A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE MEETING
WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING’S CONCLUSION AS PRESS RELEASE
SC/8011.

Background

The Security Council met this afternoon on the question concerning
Haiti, following a request from the Permanent Representative of
Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), contained in
a letter dated 23 February addressed to the President of the Council
(document S/2004/143).

Also before the Council was a letter dated 25 February from the
Permanent Representative of France addressed to the President of the
Security Council (document S/2004/145), transmitting a statement
issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, Dominique de
Villepin.  In the statement, the Foreign Minister proposes an
initiative that broadens the plan presented by CARICOM.  His
initiative would include the immediate establishment of a civilian
peacekeeping force, which would be responsible for guaranteeing the
return to public order and supporting the international community’s
action on the ground.

Haiti’s political situation became volatile after elections were held
in May 2000, and in recent months, confrontations became fatal as the
positions of the Government and opposition hardened.  Anti-government
protests have increasingly focused on the demand that President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide resign, while he has pledged not to leave
office before the end of his term in 2006.

The Security Council, in a press statement on 24 February, deplored
the Haitian opposition’s rejection of proposals from CARICOM and the
Organization of American States (OAS) that could form the basis for a
peaceful compromise with President Aristide to stem the Caribbean
country’s violent political crisis.

Statements

KEITH DESMOND KNIGHT, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jamaica,
speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said he had
come to the Council to call urgent attention to the rapidly
deteriorating situation in Haiti.  The situation had now reached
crisis proportions, given the continuing breakdown in law and order,
the rising insurgency and conditions of sheer anarchy and chaos, as
well as a worsening humanitarian crisis, which, in turn, had caused
displacement of the population, resulting in increasing numbers of
refugees pouring out of the country.

During the past weeks, the political upheaval in Haiti had escalated,
with heavily armed groups using force to extend control over parts of
the country, he said.  The prevailing situation within the country
could no longer be viewed as just an internal matter.  The current
situation now posed a serious threat to regional peace and security,
given the outflow of refugees which threatened to overwhelm the
resources of States in the region.

The past 20 months had been particularly challenging without much
progress towards ending polarization and building a political
consensus, he continued.  The result was that the country was now
locked in a political stalemate as a result of the steadfast refusal
of the opposition to engage in a process of dialogue mandated by the
CARICOM Action Plan.

Given Haiti’s status as its newest member, CARICOM had been concerned
with the developments in that country, he said.  The Community had
maintained that adherence to the following principles were critical: 
the full application of democracy in Haiti; non-acceptance of a coup
d’état in any form; and any change in Haiti must be in accordance
with Haiti’s Constitution.

On 31 January, Prime Minister Patterson, in his capacity as Chairman
of CARICOM, hosted a meeting with President Aristide in Kingston, he
continued.  That meeting produced the CARICOM Prior Action Plan which
President Aristide accepted.  It involved certain measures to improve
the security climate and to build confidence generally.  Those
included compliance with previous OAS resolutions, negotiation of
rules for demonstrations, the release of detainees, disarmament of
strong-arm groups, the strengthening of the police force and the
enjoyment of fundamental freedoms.

The Plan also envisaged the establishment of an electoral commission,
the formation of a council of eminent persons, and the appointment of
a neutral and independent Prime Minister.  It further called for the
formation of a new Government through a process of consultations
between the Prime Minister, the President and the Council.

Emanating from a subsequent meeting in Washington, a Plan of Action
was drawn up to facilitate implementation of the CARICOM Prior Action
Plan.  The Plan was accepted by President Aristide but had been
rejected by the opposition.  It was impossible to make meaningful
progress unless both sides were willing to play their part.  The fact
was that there were some steps which the President could not take
alone, as they required participation by the opposition and other
stakeholders.

The current situation was completely different from that which began
as a political impasse, he said.  The more recent incursions by
heavily armed rebel forces from the north had resulted in reprisal
killings, the destruction of property, and general lawlessness,
creating a state of anarchy in much of the country.  Immediate action
was needed to safeguard democracy, avert bloodshed and a humanitarian
disaster.

He said that, in response to the rapidly deteriorating political
situation, the Government of President Aristide had requested the
international community to assist in the restoration of security,
order and the rule of law.  Given the likelihood of the rebel forces
reaching the capital, CARICOM had been requested to garner support in
the strengthening of the Haitian National Police, with the
possibility of participation in a multinational force in Haiti.

While CARICOM would continue to play its role in seeking a political
solution to the crisis, the United Nations had a special
responsibility in assisting Haiti, given its record of involvement in
peacekeeping missions, he continued.  The restoration of peace and
stability should be considered as part of its unfinished business. 
He welcomed the opportunity by the Secretary-General to appoint a
Special Adviser to coordinate and promote greater United Nations
engagement in dealing with the current crisis.

The United Nations’ past involvement in Haiti highlighted an
historical recognition of its responsibility to assist in finding a
solution to what had been an intractable situation for a prolonged
period, he said.  The United Nations’ role had had a significant
impact on past attempts that had been relatively successful in
stemming the downward spiral and in bringing the parties to the
negotiating table.  The volatile situation in Haiti today and the
potential for further chaos was not only a threat to the region’s
peace and security but must also be of great concern to the
international community.

It was against that backdrop that the CARICOM member States sought
the direct and immediate intervention of the United Nations in Haiti,
he stated.  The situation was one of utmost urgency, and the need for
decisive action was paramount.  The immediate need now was for the
Council to authorize the urgent deployment of a multinational force
to assist in the restoration of law and order, to facilitate a return
to stability and to create an environment in which efforts to find a
solution to the political crisis could be pursued.  Such
international support would be important to prepare the ground for
parliamentary elections and for a presidential election when due. 
The Council should authorize the creation of a force and encourage
participation by those States with available resources.

He stressed that CARICOM’s stand on the issue was not driven by any
desire to promote the political interests of any particular
personality in the Haiti political arena but was based on the need to
remain faithful to democratic principle and the integrity of a
constitutional order.  The CARICOM also called upon the Council to
endorse urgent action by the international community to address the
growing humanitarian crisis and the need to extend assistance
including through the delivery of international aid for a smooth
transition to long-term economic and social reconstruction.

It was also imperative that the States affected be provided with the
requisite resources to offset costs for the provision of relief and
humanitarian assistance to the refugees, he said.  It was a cruel
twist of fate that the first free black republic in the hemisphere
had had such a long and difficult history of struggle to protect that
very freedom.  It was an even more cruel irony that, in the
bicentenary of the commemoration of the historic event that marked
the beginning of a new era of freedom, the people of Haiti were today
vastly removed from the goals they fought to achieve.

JEAN C. ALEXANDRE (Haiti) said the situation in Haiti was urgent and
serious, requiring the attention of the international community. 
Since 5 February, the country had faced an armed insurrection
committed by armed groups, which now controlled the northern part of
the country.  The attacks of the armed groups had jeopardized the
stability of the county’s institutions and was leading to a chaotic
situation.  The latest report by the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs of 25 February was more than alarming.  That
dangerous path of violence was not an option and posed a serious
threat to the region.  It threatened to plunge the country into a
humanitarian disaster.  In the current situation, the international
community needed to step forward.

Politically speaking, it was urgent that a solution be found in the
near future to return the country to normalcy, he said.  President
Aristide had consented to the Plan presented by members of the
international community, including CARICOM and the Organization of
American States.  That Plan, which among other things provided for a
government of national consensus, was unfortunately rejected by the
opposition, which had further worsened the crisis.  Maintaining
public order was a major challenge that the Haitian police was no
longer capable of meeting.  He called on the opposition to resort to
dialogue to return to peace.  Faced with the intransigence of the
opposition and the growing number of dead and wounded, how long would
the international community wait before it came to Haiti’s assistance?

He associated himself with the statement of CARICOM which appealed to
the Council to urgently send an international force to end the
violence in Haiti, and demand that the opposition accept a political
resolution to the conflict.  At the current time, it was important to
address human rights in the country.  After32 coups in Haiti, it was
clear that a democratically elected president must hand over power to
another democratically elected president.  The Government counted on
the support of the international community to promote a democratic
and lasting solution.

FREDERICK A. MITCHELL, M.P., Minister for Foreign Affairs and Public
Service of the Bahamas, supported the CARICOM statement in its
entirety.  The situation in Haiti presented a moral call to action. 
It was clear that the situation in Haiti was out of control.  Law and
order had broken down.  Haiti was the newest member of CARICOM. 
There were two aspects to the present situation, including the
immediate problem of the breakdown in law and order.  The Haitian
Government was unable with its existing resources to bring the matter
under control.  There was also the anecdotal evidence of an
insurgency that claimed to control half of the country.  If the
international community refused to act quickly, it would be condoning
an attempt to overthrow the Government by force.

The immediate problem to be addressed was helping to restore law and
order in Haiti, he continued.  People and nations would be needed to
do that.  He understood that no nation wanted to put its people in
harm’s way.  There was need for a commonality of understanding
between all parties in Haiti if the country were to progress out of
the present difficulties.  The latest CARICOM initiative offered that
chance, and it was imperative for all actors to agree to that plan as
the way forward.  The sovereign choices of the Haitian people as to
who their leader was would be was entirely a decision for the Haitian
people.

He said there was also a need for a long-term effort at keeping the
peace in Haiti.  In many respects, the world community took its eye
off the situation in Haiti in the 1990s.  He urged quick and decisive
United Nations action so that countries that could help, including
the Bahamas, could move with legal authority to provide the immediate
assistance for security and then to contribute to the longer
peacekeeping and humanitarian effort.  Haiti’s people had a right to
exist in peaceful and quiet enjoyment of their country within secure
borders.

ANA MARÍA MENÉNDEZ (Spain) said she was deeply concerned by the
situation besetting Haiti.  Most unfortunately, the crisis had only
deteriorated since
18 February, when the Council had issued a statement urging both
sides to reach a solution.  One must wonder what the Council could do
when faced with such a grave situation, resulting from the overlap of
two crises -– one political, tracing back to 2001, and the other
related to security, generated by the weakness of the State and
provoked by armed groups.

The mediation work carried out by CARICOM was essential, she said. 
Its Plan of Action contained keys for a peaceful resolution, and it
was imperative that measures be adopted to find a peaceful solution
to the crisis.  She supported the sending of a peacekeeping force to
guarantee conditions of security for mediation and humanitarian
efforts.  She believed there should be a programme of humanitarian
assistance, to be coordinated by the United Nations.  For all of
that, she would support the Council’s adoption of a resolution.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said that in recent days the situation had
rapidly worsened with half the country under the control of rebel
forces.  Anarchy was prevalent in the northern part of the country,
and the situation was accompanied by a genuine humanitarian
disaster.  If no decisive action were taken, the entire country could
be plunged into chaos with all its implications.  The crisis was
clearly a political one, which could have been solved via negotiation
and responsible dialogue among the concerned parties.  While the
showdown had led to violence, the diplomatic efforts to bring about a
political settlement must continue and be intensified.  There was no
alternative to a negotiated solution.

Algeria had provided its support to CARICOM’s and the OAS’ efforts to
restore confidence and promote dialogue between the parties in
accordance with three key principles outlined by the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, he said.  Yesterday, the Council had
called on the parties to accept the plan of action to bring about a
peaceful solution.  While President Aristide had accepted it, the
opposition continued to reject the plan.  Given the worsening
situation, the Council must envisage various emergency options for an
international commitment in Haiti, including the formation of an
international force.  The Council could not allow chaos to engulf
Haiti.  Given the looming humanitarian disaster, the Organization
must mobilize assistance and aid and to strengthen its presence in
Haiti.

ALEXANDER KONUZIN (Russian Federation) said he shared the deep
concern of the international community regarding to the widespread
turmoil in Haiti, human rights violations and loss of life.  He
condemned acts of violence taking place there and called on all
forces to end the violence and reach a peaceful solution.  He
supported the efforts of the OAS and CARICOM and other interested
States aimed at providing Haiti with the necessary assistance.

He said he was prepared to consider proposals on what the United
Nations could additionally do in that area and was concerned that the
latest developments involved a worsening of an already precarious
humanitarian situation in the country.  He appreciated the activities
of OCHA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
others who were continuing their efforts in very difficult conditions
and called on all interested parties to cooperate with them to ensure
the safety of human personnel and United Nations facilities.

ADAM THOMSON (United Kingdom) said he recognized regional concerns
about the situation.  He fully supported the statement to be made by
the European Union.  The United Kingdom believed a resolution could
still be obtained by peaceful means through negotiations.  He fully
supported the Plan of Action put forward by CARICOM and the OAS.  It
was an important basis for the resolution to the crisis.  He called
on all parties to exercise restraint, to contribute to the
restoration of law and order, to make the well-being of the Haitian
civilian population their priority, to observe human rights and to
respect international personnel and facilities in Haiti.

He urged the parties to re-enter negotiations.  The United Kingdom
would continue to support the efforts of those working to find a
peaceful solution, and it was ready to consider proposals for the
international community to contribute to the stabilization of the
situation and to its durable, long-term improvement.

CRISTIÁN MAQUIEIRA (Chile) said he regretted that once again the
political situation in Haiti had fallen into crisis, causing the
Council to consider the situation in that country.  The international
community’s efforts must support finding a peaceful solution to the
crisis.  To that end, he favoured a political solution by
constitutional and peaceful means, which could be achieved by
adhering to the CARICOM Plan of Action.

Also, the process should be conducted by regional and subregional
organizations, which were currently active, he said.  At the same
time, the Council should not exclude taking action if required.  In
addition, he supported the appointment of a special representative
for Haiti, which would be important for coordinating the activities
of the United Nations and other actors.  Further, any way in which a
civilian force was dispatched should be in accordance with the
agreements reached.

LAURO L. BAJA, JR. (Philippines) said the urgent priority was to
restore order on the ground, pre-empt further human rights abuses and
allow safe delivery of humanitarian assistance.  As there was no
military force in Haiti, and the civilian police was incapable of
doing that, there was, therefore, urgent need for a civilian
international force.  The Council’s calls must be accompanied by
strong action on the ground, or its calls would remain hollow. 
Diplomatic and political initiatives were ongoing to secure a
solution.  They would have greater chance of success only when the
guns were silenced.

Both sides were on a collision course, he said.  If an international
force was envisaged, it must be formed now and time was of the
essence.  He saw merit in the statement of the Foreign Minister of
France, which called for the establishment of a civilian peacekeeping
force.  There were a number of countries that would be ready to
contribute to the force.  A new coalition of the willing could
restore order.

Resolving the problem peacefully would prevent the overflow of
refugees, he said.  Yesterday, the President had called on the
Government and the armed rebels to seek a political solution to the
crisis.  It remained unclear whether the message had reached the
parties concerned.  If the Council renewed that call, it must do
something beyond yesterday’s call and do something on the ground. 
The international community should not abdicate its responsibility. 
The best way for a bad situation to get worse was to do nothing, or
do something too late.  He welcomed the appointment of a special
adviser.

ISMAEL ABRAÃO GASPAR MARTINS (Angola) said that today was a unique
opportunity to discuss the crisis in Haiti with key actors.  The
current crisis called on the international community and the Security
Council to take a stand and to carry out its responsibility, namely,
to maintain peace and security.  Today’s debate was testimony of the
Council’s resolve to act.  The armed insurgency, if allowed to
proceed unchecked, did not represent a dignified alternative.  He
appealed to the opposition to reconsider its rejection of the plan
presented by CARICOM.  In fact, the opposition should seize the
opportunity as a realistic way to achieve its political objectives.

He expressed appreciation for the responses of France, Canada and the
United States, whose engagement would be helpful to the people of
Haiti.  He was ready to support the Council, as it responded to the
crisis, including the sending of an international force.  Also, he
fully supported the appointment of a special envoy.  Lastly, he
called on the parties to ensure the protection of civilians and the
security of humanitarian personnel.

JOEL W. ADECHI (Benin) said he was very concerned about the
seriousness of the situation in Haiti and called for robust measures
to help the Haitian people.  Haitians had a new opportunity for a new
beginning.  The humanitarian situation had seriously worsened, and
immediate action was needed.  The situation had to be rapidly
stabilized to prevent the country from falling into further crisis,
and he called on all the parties to embrace dialogue and
negotiation.  He supported the efforts of CARICOM, the OAS and the
countries involved in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. 
Constitutional order must be respected.  He welcomed the appointment
by the Secretary-General of a Special Adviser to follow the situation.

The international community must help the Haitians move into a cycle
of growth, he said.  In the short term, several actions were needed,
including the facilitation of emergency humanitarian assistance, the
restoration of law and public order, the establishment of the rule of
law, the creation of a national republican army, the
professionalization of the police force and the strengthening of its
institutions.  The Haitian authorities must fully embrace the
aspirations of the Haitian people to be governed by law and build a
free society.

GUNTER PLEUGER (Germany) called on the continuous support of the OAS
and CARICOM to broker a political settlement in Haiti.  A political
dialogue must be carried out with a spirit of compromise on all
sides.  It was the responsibility of all Haitian parties to reject
violent means as the way to achieve political objectives.  Violence
and human rights violations could not be building blocks for the
country’s future.  Those who calculated that violence might further
their cause should be aware that such violence might soon be turned
on them.  A peaceful settlement required foreign assistance, and the
Council should be ready to assist the stabilization process.

In addition, the international community had an obligation regarding
the disappearance of law and order in a Member State, he said.  It
was necessary to discuss how to assist the Haitian population.  He
welcomed the Secretary-General’s decision to appoint a Special
Adviser, as well as France’s initiative to invite both sides to talks
in Paris.  He deplored the loss of life in Haiti and noted that the
international community was facing a worsening humanitarian situation
in the country.  For the sake of the people of Haiti, violence and
confrontation must end immediately.  He expected the Council to make
that clear in an unambiguous presidential statement at the end of
today’s meeting.

MASOOD KHALID (Pakistan) said the situation had been rightly
described as reaching crisis proportions.  He shared the concerns of
other members over the humanitarian situation in the country. 
Immediate action was warranted.  He commended the comments of the
friends of Haiti and supported the OAS and CAROCOM initiative to
promote a peaceful solution, expressing hopes that the parties could
find a way forward to find a peaceful settlement.  He was willing to
consider broader international engagement in accordance with the
United Nations Charter.

There were no quick fixes, and the problems faced by Haiti were
multidimensional, he added.  Haiti was the poorest country in the
Americas, and solutions had to be found on several fronts.  While
immediate concerns were on the political and humanitarian areas, the
deeper socio-economic root cause of the conflict must also be
addressed.  Pakistan had always advised against premature
disengagement of the United Nations in conflict situations and had
called for a more comprehensive approach involving the General
Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.  If the United Nations
became involved, it must do so with sustained commitment to stay the
course until lasting peace was fully assured.

JOHN NEGROPONTE (United States) said he was deeply concerned about
the political crisis in Haiti.  He condemned the use of violence and
called on all actors to engage in dialogue to secure a peaceful
solution.  Only then could the Haitian people build a prosperous
future for themselves.  If a sustainable political solution was
reached, the United States would support efforts to deploy an
international force to support implementation.  His country was
working closely with CARICOM, the OAS and friends of Haiti to respond
to the crisis and would continue to do so.  Also, he strongly
supported the full implementation of OAS resolutions 806, 822 and,
most recently, 861.  Those resolutions remained valid and outlined
the steps to be taken if democracy was to take root.

He continued to support the OAS special mission in Haiti, which could
serve as the basis for an expanded mission to promote the rule of
law, train police and encourage a climate of security.  He urged all
parties to maintain dialogue to reach a political solution.  It was
imperative that such a solution be reached quickly before the
humanitarian crisis worsened.  The parties must act in the best
interest of the Haitian people.  He would continue to consult with
his CARICOM partners and others regarding the international
community’s response to Haiti’s crisis.

JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE (France) said his country was concerned by
the grave situation in the country.  He hailed the presence of the
Jamaican Foreign Minister and welcomed the Minister for Foreign
Affairs of the Bahamas.  He shared their sentiment of urgency and
their will to act.  The CARICOM and the OAS had a legitimacy and
expertise on the issue.  The point of departure for solving a crisis
lay in the plan of action put forth by CARICOM and the OAS.  The
mobilization of the international community must revolve around that
plan.  An urgent situation was being faced on two levels, namely, the
humanitarian situation and the situation of human rights violations. 
International efforts must be supported to respond to the current
situation.

He said it was equally urgent to find a solution to the political
crisis, which must fall within the current constitutional framework. 
It was important to insist on the proposals put forth relating to a
transitional national unity government led by a Prime Minister.  To
ensure the necessary support for the plan, it was useful to
supplement it by accelerating the timetable for presidential and
general elections.  International assistance should be deployed to
prepare for such elections through the establishment of an electoral
commission. 

France believed a civilian peacekeeping force should be envisaged, he
said.  Such a force would not be a United Nations force, but should
be authorized by the Council and have a Council mandate.  It could be
an important complement to a political solution and could also help
support a government of national unity and support the international
community’s action on the ground, notably in the humanitarian and
human rights spheres.

France would be prepared to contribute to a civilian peacekeeping
force meeting those conditions, in addition to contingents that must
come from the countries of the region, he said.  It was up to the
Haitian political forces to make the necessary concessions to achieve
a political agreement.  He was profoundly disturbed by the violence
and attacks, and beseeched the leaders to make the obligatory
gestures of openness.  Then, the international community, in support
of CARICOM and the OAS, would be able to fulfil its responsibilities,
and the United Nations would have an essential role in that regard. 
He hailed the decision already taken by the Secretary-General and
would support the appointment of a Special Representative capable of
acting on the ground.  France was determined to pursue its efforts to
rally the international community on behalf of Haiti.

MIHNEA IOAN MOTOC (Romania) reaffirmed his support for regional
initiatives to resolve the crisis in Haiti.  The basic tenets of the
Plan of Action presented by CARICOM had real potential for bringing
about a peaceful and constitutional solution to the crisis.  The
international community could not ignore the disruption caused by the
constitutional crisis in the country.  It would be wise to complement
the Plan of Action with other ideas, and it was possible to consider
an accelerated timetable for a political solution.  He urged all
Haitian parties to show the necessary spirit of compromise and urged
armed rebels to stop the violence.

The sources of instability were interrelated, including poverty and
the lack of development, he said.  The situation required a coherent
and integrated approach, and the consideration of a long-term
solution.  He took note of the request for action put forward by
CARICOM and the representative of Haiti.  He was prepared to work
with other Council members to respond to that request.  He welcomed
the Secretary-General’s decision to appoint a Special Adviser for
Haiti, whose primary tasks would include responding to the worsening
humanitarian crisis.

RONALDO MOTA SARDENBERG (Brazil) said today’s session was timely and
appropriate.  Brazil was highly concerned with the situation in Haiti
and was closely following events there.  He expressed solidarity with
the people of Haiti in the current difficult moment.  Violence was
not an acceptable solution to overcoming differences or advancing
ideas, and Brazil attached importance to the safeguarding of legality
and democracy in Haiti.  The Rio Group had been maintaining
consultations on the subject, and it had called on the parties to
accept the CAROCOM plan and strongly condemned acts of violence. 
While the situation was steadily deteriorating, there still seemed to
be room for dialogue.  He called on the parties to show willingness
and good faith in engaging in constructive dialogue, as well as
renouncing any violent acts designed to put their political agenda
forward.

Brazil was ready to discuss all possibilities of international
engagement to promote security and address the humanitarian
situation, he said.  Brazil supported all efforts being carried out
by the United Nations agencies on the ground, and strongly deplored
the restrictions of movement that were being imposed by the rebel
groups.  He called on the parties to facilitate assistance, including
by enabling the establishment of humanitarian corridors.  He also
stressed the importance of a renewed commitment of the international
community, especially the United Nations, towards creating long-term
conditions for a stable and prosperous Haiti.  The resurgence of
violence, some 10 years after the Council had been seized of the
matter, showed that the means adopted then had not brought about the
results envisaged and that innovative approaches were required.

Council President WANG GUANGYA (China), speaking in his national
capacity, said he fully understood the concern of the representatives
of Haiti and CARICOM.  Their recommendations merited close
examination.  He was closely following the situation in Haiti, was
concerned about the heavy casualties, and urged all sides to resolve
the current crisis by peaceful dialogue in the best interest of the
nation.

He commended the OAS and CARICOM for their unremitting efforts to
push all sides forward to break the current deadlock and welcomed the
decision of the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Adviser for
Haiti.  Calling on the international community to provide the Haitian
people with emergency humanitarian assistance, he said he would work
with the international community to ease the humanitarian crisis and
resolve the political stalemate.

RICHARD RYAN (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union and
associated States, welcomed the Secretary-General’s decision to
appoint a Special Adviser for Haiti.  The Union was gravely concerned
at the worsening situation there, and that concern had increased with
each troubling report on, among other things, the marked
deterioration in the security situation, the continuing loss of life,
the abuse of human rights, and serious violations of democratic
rules.  He called on all parties to facilitate the provision of
humanitarian aid and to respect humanitarian personnel, vehicles and
medical facilities.

The present crisis in Haiti must be resolved peacefully, through
constitutional means and a process of political dialogue and
compromise, he said.  The Union had given clear support to the
efforts of the OAS to facilitate a resolution of the political
impasse in Haiti.  It had also strongly supported the recent
initiative by the CARICOM.  The Union deeply regretted that the
opposition in Haiti had so far declined to accept the Plan of Action
presented to the Government and opposition on 21 February.  The Union
was convinced that the principles of that plan offered an important
contribution to restore confidence and to facilitate dialogue.  All
parties bore heavy responsibilities in the current circumstances.

The Union stood ready, he said, to accelerate the search for a
peaceful, democratic and constitutional outcome.  In that regard, the
Union particularly welcomed the urgent initiative by the Government
of France to invite representatives of the Haitian Government, the
opposition and civil society to talks in Paris tomorrow.  The Union
called on all parties to refrain from any action that would further
imperil the welfare of the Haitian people.

ORLANDO REQUEIJO GUAL (Cuba) said the international community must
help Haiti at such a crucial time in its history.  The old problems
derived from colonialism and exploitation were compounded by new,
pressing difficulties relating to the unjust and excluding
international economic order.  Cuba had abided by and would strictly
abide by its principles of non-interference in the internal affairs
of any country, including Haiti.  Supporting the efforts of CARICOM
for a peaceful and just settlement in Haiti, he firmly condemned all
acts of violence taking place in that country and regretted the
ongoing casualties and material damages.

Cuban collaborators, he said, continued to work in their positions in
Haiti despite the precarious situation in the country.  Cuban doctors
continued to assist people, and Cuba had a medical brigade in Haiti,
responsible for 75,000 Haitians.  In the midst of the current
domestic tensions, last Tuesday, the Cuban Government had instructed
the brigade to continue working.  He went on to highlight the
important work Cuban collaborators continued to perform in the midst
of the humanitarian and political crisis.
.