22960: Esser: South Africa recognizes Aristide as Haitian leader (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser <torx@joimail.com>

IAFRICA.COM
http://iafrica.com/news/sa/340894.htm

CAPE TOWN
'SA recognises Aristide as Haiti leader'
August 13, 2004

South Africa continues to recognise deposed Haitian president
Jean-Bertrand Aristide as the legitimately elected president of
Haiti, says Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Replying to written questions in the National Assembly by Democratic
Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson, she said Aristide had not applied
for asylum in South Africa.

He, his family and aides were being treated as "foreign distinguished
guests of the state" in terms of the Immigration Act.

"The financial upkeep of president Aristide and his family will be
done in accordance with the standards and procedures laid down for a
Cabinet minister in South Africa, while the security assessment will
be done on an ongoing basis by the security establishment," she said.

Asked whether government had asked France or the United States to
provide funds to cover Aristide's stay in the country, Dlamini-Zuma
said Cabinet had received a formal request from the Caribbean
Community (Caricom) to accommodate him in the country.

"The South African government acceded to this request. We did not
think it appropriate to ask somebody else to pay," she said.

Regarding the cost of transporting Aristide to South Africa, she
said: "We do not know. He was transported by courtesy of the South
African (National) Defence Force."

Gibson also wanted to know whether government still recognised
Aristide as president of Haiti.

"Yes, the government recognises president Jean-Bertrand Aristide as
the legitimately elected president of Haiti," Dlamini-Zuma said.

No restrictions, apart from "those dictated by reasons of security",
were being placed on Aristide's political activities and movements
inside or outside of South Africa, she said.

Sapa
.