21207: Esser: Brazil ready to take over Haiti mission in July (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Associated Press

April 9, 2004

Brazil ready to take over Haiti mission in July

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Brazil is prepared to take command of the
United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months starting
in July, the country's defense minister has announced.

Brazil plans to send a total of 1,470 army, navy and air force troops
to Haiti for six months, Defense Minister Jose Viegas told
journalists in the Brazilian capital late Thursday after discussing
the issue with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Other Latin American countries such as Peru, Chile and Argentina
indicated they could contribute troops to the peacekeeping forces,
the defense minister said.

The U.N. and a U.S.-led multinational force are trying to stabilize
Haiti after a three-week rebellion forced the country's
democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to flee on
February 29. Currently, some 3,600 troops from the U.S., Canada and
Chile are serving in Haiti.

The U.N. Security Council authorized the international force to
remain in the lawless Caribbean nation for "not more than three
months." A U.N. peacekeeping force, expected to include both soldiers
and civilian police, is to take over in June.

The Security Council could make a final decision on the passing of
the command to Brazil as early as next week, Viegas said.

The council is scheduled to hold consultations on Haiti on Wednesday.

The idea of a Brazilian command of the U.N. force in Haiti was first
raised by French President Jacques Chirac during a telephone
conversation with Silva in March.

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.
.