22250: Esser: No official word from Haiti on resumption of relations (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

June 05, 2004

No official word from Haiti on resumption of relations

JAMAICA up to last night was yet to receive correspondence from
Haiti's interim prime minister, Gerard Latortue, on Port-au-Prince's
plans to resume diplomatic relations with Kingston, a government
source said.

Radio Jamaica reported yesterday evening that Haiti was preparing to
resume diplomatic relations with Jamaica and would be sending a new
ambassador to Kingston.

But the Observer source said the foreign ministry has not been
informed about such a decision. "Mr Latortue believes diplomacy can
be conducted in the media," said the government source.

Latortue withdrew Haiti's ambassador to Jamaica in March to protest
against Prime Minister P J Patterson's decision to grant temporary
asylum to the ousted Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The interim Haitian leader who also froze relations with the
Caribbean Community, of which it is a member, said Jamaica's decision
was a bad one.

Aristide, who was forced out on February 29, left Jamaica last Sunday
for South Africa. He, however, vowed to return home when stability
returns to the poor Caribbean nation.
.