21108: radtimes: U.S. Support for Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

   Fact Sheet
   Office of the Spokesman
   Washington, DC
   April 5, 2004

   U.S. Support for Haiti

   These specific initiatives, announced during Secretary of State Colin L.
Powell's
April 5 visit to Haiti, underscore the U.S. commitment and rapid response to
   helping Haiti s security, economic recovery and national reconciliation.

   Security: The U.S. plans immediately to deploy a seven-member team to advise
   the Interim Government on security issues, consisting of:

     * One advisor to assist the Minister of Interior with planning, and
assist in
       coordination with the UN, OAS and other donors.
     * Two advisors to help the Director General of Police with human rights
       betting of police personnel, strategic planning, management, and command
       and control issues.
     * One advisor to help restart operations at the police academy.
     * One advisor to assist prison leadership.
     * One advisor to work with the courts and administration of justice
issues.
     * One advisor who will act as a team leader and help coordinate the
       activities of the advisory team.


   Urgent Employment Generation: In addition to an ongoing $52 million economic
   development and humanitarian assistance program, the U.S. will begin an
urgent
   three-year jobs program, which will provide tens of thousands of jobs to
   improve municipal infrastructure and create jobs in Port-au-Prince, Cap
   Haitien, Gonaives and other locations as needed. The project will
rehabilitate
   schools and public buildings destroyed by rioting and burning; build or
   rehabilitate roads; and, improve community water supplies.

   Democracy and Human Rights: The United States will allocate $9 million for
   elections and democracy building to support activities of the OAS Special
   Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti, which is in addition to the
   special voluntary contribution of $4.9 million recently given to the Special
   Mission. Other activities may include:

     * Support for government efforts aimed at the full observance of human
rights
       and fundamental freedoms.
     * Efforts to professionalize the Haitian National Police through special
       training and assistance.
     * Support to Haiti s new Truth, Justice and National Reconciliation
       Commission.


   Elections: $500,000 will be provided for public education programs to
prepare
   for elections, conduct public opinion polling and conduct training for
   political parties to develop candidates.

   Technical Advice and Recovery of Assets: The U.S. Treasury Department
will send
   an assessment team in mid-April to determine the technical assistance
needed by
   the Ministry of Finance of the Haitian government. The United States is
   prepared to assists Haitian authorities in the recovery of assets that
may have
   been illicitly diverted.

   Humanitarian Assistance: The U.S. will seek to expand our humanitarian
   development programs the largest in Haiti to ensure that the medical and
   nutritional needs of Haiti s most disadvantaged people are met. Since the
   latest crisis began to unfold in February, the U.S. has responded
quickly with
   an additional $3 million to provide badly needed medical and food supplies.

   2004
   [End]

   Released on April 5, 2004

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