20814: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Neighbors will discuss Haiti ties (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Mar. 25, 2004


Neighbors will discuss Haiti ties

A CARICOM summit in St. Kitts is taking up thorny issues surrounding the new
Haitian government.

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES

Miami Herald


ST. KITTS -- A summit of Caribbean Community leaders that opens in St. Kitts
today will consider whether to recognize Haiti's new government and what
role the 15-member regional bloc will play in the future of its restive
member-state.

Before last week, CARICOM heads of government seemed poised to recognize new
Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and send humanitarian aid in the wake
of a bloody revolt that wracked the nation during most of February.

CARICOM leaders then seemed willing to put aside their concerns over former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's allegations that U.S. officials had
forced him to resign on Feb. 29 and ''kidnapped'' him to exile in Africa.

ANGRY OVER STATEMENT

But they grew angry amid Latortue statements last week threatening to
suspend relations with CARICOM in retaliation for Jamaica's agreement to
host Aristide for a visit and defending the rebels who helped drive him out
as ``freedom fighters.''

''Many of these people were criminals,'' CARICOM Secretary General Edwin
Carrington said of the rebels. ``He must first repudiate those statements.''

Carrington said late Tuesday that Latortue had indicated a desire to attend
the St. Kitts summit during several chats since he made the statements. But
Carrington added that he advised Latortue to first clarify his statements.

''If he can clearly clarify that . . . one would be clearer as to the lines
that exist'' for future Haiti-CARICOM relations, Carrington said. ``As of
now, the [CARICOM] position . . . is [that Haiti] has suspended relations.''

`FRUITFUL RELATIONS'

Latortue on Monday issued a statement saying that he and Carrington had
clarified any misunderstandings and that Haiti wanted ``more fruitful
relations with the countries of CARICOM.''

Carrington said he had not received an official copy of the statement, and
that it was unclear whether it would satisfy the CARICOM heads of
government.

CARICOM leaders already have received a legal briefing on their options
regarding Haiti, the newest and one of two non-English-speaking members of
the regional bloc, according to knowledgeable officials.

One possible move is to suspend Haiti's membership in CARICOM, whose charter
requires member nations to have democratically elected governments, the
officials said. But such a step would only hurt Haiti and its people in a
time of need, the officials conceded.

CARICOM took a leading role in trying to mediate a power-sharing agreement
between Aristide and his political opponents in January to end a 3-year-old
crisis sparked by disputed legislative elections in 2000. Aristide accepted
the deal, but the opposition rejected it -- even as the rebels advanced
toward the capital, Port-au-Prince.

After Aristide alleged that Washington had forced him out, CARICOM leaders
refused to back U.S. and French efforts to help form a new Haitian
government or send troops to join the current multinational security force
in Haiti. They have said they may reconsider sending troops later, when the
situation may be more stable and the United Nations may take over the
peacekeeping duties.

''We hope we can still contribute to that process,'' Carrington said.

Haiti's newly appointed minister of commerce, industry and tourism, Danielle
Saint Lot, meanwhile said Haiti needs CARICOM to increase its trade and
bring in foreign investments.

''I think we really have to work to be a part of Caricom,'' she told The
Herald in Haiti. ``Working with Caricom we will be able to have
partnerships.''

In addition to Haiti, CARICOM leaders attending the summit also will discuss
progress in their economic and judicial integration efforts and issues
related to crime and security.

Herald staff writer Michael A. W. Ottey contributed to this report.

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