21484: Esser: Brazil to lead UN mission in Haiti with conditions (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Xinhua
www.chinaview.cn

April 21, 2004

Brazil to lead UN mission in Haiti with conditions


BRASILIA, April 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva said Tuesday his country would command the United
Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti only if there was an "effective
commitment" from the international community for the "reconstruction"
of the Caribbean nation.

Last month, Brazil said it would send 1,100 troops to contribute to
the second phase of the UN operation in Haiti and agreed to command
the multinational forces that will also include troops from the
United States, Canada, France, Argentina and Chile.

In a speech at a ceremony in the Itamaraty Palace at the Foreign
Ministry, Lula said there were conditions for Brazil to lead the UN
peacekeeping forces.

Lula said Brazil's "offer" to command the troops in Haiti was
"conditional on the effective commitment from the international
community for the reconstruction of this country."

"The tragedies that the Middle East and Iraq are undergoing today"
strengthened his conviction "on the importance of an international
order based on law, multilateralism and the United Nations," Lula
added.

The idea of a Brazilian command of the UN force in Haiti was first
raised by French President Jacques Chirac during a
telephoneconversation with Lula in March and was backed by the United
Nations.

Less than two weeks ago, Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Viegas
announced that Brazil planned to send a total of 1,470 army, navy and
air force troops to Haiti for six months starting in July.

The UN Security Council is expected to pass a new resolution inthe
next few days on the peacekeeping forces to replace the US, French,
Canadian and Chilean troops, which have been deployed in Haiti since
February to restore order after the departure of Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
.