19302: (Chamberlain) Norway drops Haiti peace efforts (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

(Aftenposten, Norway, 27 Feb 04)


Norwegians call off talks on Haiti



Norwegian officials have postponed talks aimed at bringing together
representatives for both the government and the opposition in Haiti. The
past week's violence in Haiti makes the talks too difficult to conduct.

"Now the level of conflict is so high that both sides should concentrate on
handling the difficult situation there now," said Vidar Helgesen of the
Foreign Ministry.

Norwegian diplomats have spent four years trying to help international
efforts at promoting talks between the opposition and the government in
Haiti.

Around 17 people from Haiti along with several international diplomats were
supposed to arrive in Norway in early March for talks aboard one of the
Coastal Voyage vessels.

That won't happen now, reports Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). Helgesen noted
that Norway isn't playing an official peace broker role in Haiti, but has
tried to promote a reconciliation process.

"The conflict we're now seeing is playing out beyond the political system,
and that's the main problem," Helgesen said. He said no officials have
contact with the rebels who have been launching attacks in Haiti.

Rebels were reported to have overrun Haiti's third-largest city, Cayes. US
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Haiti's embattled president,
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, should evaluate whether he can continue in office.