22269: Blanchet: Fw: [Daily-briefing] Daily Press Briefing (June 4, 2004) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

>
>
>                          Daily Press Briefing
>                           Statements made by
>              the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
>
>                         (Paris, June 4, 2004)
>      [Please note that only the original French text issued by the
>      French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.
>                   ( http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr )]
>
>
> HAITI/MINUSTAH
> ==============
>
> In accordance with UN Resolution 1542, MINUSTAH, the UN stabilization
> mission in Haiti, began deploying on June 1 under Brazilian command in
> Haiti where it is taking over from the multinational interim force.
>
> As you know, French troops took part in the multinational interim force in
> Haiti whose mission was to build confidence among Haitians.  They worked
> for the necessary political dialogue and for the re-establishment of the
> Haitian police in the northern part of the island.
>
> In order to participate, in the context of the mandate of SCR 1529, in the
> transition which has now begun in Haiti and to assist in the establishment
> of MINUSTAH under the best possible conditions, France has decided to
> conduct its withdrawal in stages through June 30.
>
> I'd like to remind you that Haiti suffered from severe flooding which
> moreover justified the fact that Michel Barnier was there last Friday
> after being in Guadalajara for the EU/Latin American summit.  In this
> context France provided support to the Haitian authorities, in particular
> by making our forces' air resources, in this instance, helicopters,
> immediately available.   This made it possible to deliver our emergency
> relief to the affected areas. Land assets can be used now, and that is why
> the aid is now being delivered on the ground and not in the air.
>
> Q - Are French troops going to take part in MINUSTAH eventually?
>
> No. We took part militarily in the multinational interim force with a
> contingent 900 strong.  We do not envision however a military
> participation in MINUSTAH.  We will have a police and gendarme contingent
> of some 90 people in the context of missions to train the Haitian police.
> As you know, the force is under Brazilian command and is beginning to
> deploy now with a number of Latin-American contingents and will be
> increased in strength.
>
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