20475: Esser: Venezuela Won't Recognize New Haitian Government, Chavez Says (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Bloomberg

March 16, 2004

Venezuela Won't Recognize New Haitian Government, Chavez Says

March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez offered
refuge to Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, saying his
government won't recognize the new, U.S.- backed regime in Haiti.

``The legitimate president of Haiti was kidnapped by U.S. troops,''
Chavez said in a televised speech. ``The doors of Venezuela are
always open to President Aristide.''

Aristide stepped down Feb. 29 after rebels took control of the north
of the country and threatened to attack the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The U.S. has denied Aristide's allegation he was forced to accept
exile.

The U.S. is leading the military stabilization effort of Haiti, with
1,750 U.S. Marines deployed alongside 800 French soldiers and naval
officers, 325 Chilean soldiers and 125 Canadians.

Aristide arrived in Jamaica yesterday to meet family members after
initially taking exile in the Central African Republic.



To contact the reporter on this story:
Alex Kennedy in Caracas, or akennedy1@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor of this story:
Laura Zelenko in New York at lzelenko@bloomberg.net
.