29400: Blanchet: HAITI -- DIPLOMACY -- Rift with China puts U.N. aid to Haiti at risk (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

Rift with China puts U.N. aid to Haiti at risk
- Miami Herald/Jacqueline Charles

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Foreign diplomats say they are feverishly working behind the 
scenes to mend a Haitian flap with China that could jeopardize the U.N. 
peacekeeping force deployed here.

The diplomats said China, which has veto power in the U.N. Security Council, is 
threatening to veto the renewal of the U.N. peacekeeping operations in Haiti 
when it comes up for a vote in February. China also has 130 police officers 
serving in Haiti as part of the U.N. mission.

The Haitian government sparked the threat when it unsuccessfully attempted in 
September to put a pro-Taiwan proposal on the U.N. General Assembly's agenda.

Haiti has long favored Taiwan in its struggle for recognition against Beijing, 
and Taiwan has provided massive financial aid for development and anti-poverty 
programs.

''It's a serious threat,'' said a foreign diplomat familiar with the incident. 
The diplomat asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the dispute.

The Chinese delegations at the United Nations and in Port-au-Prince declined 
comment on the issue.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice showed concern, calling Haitian 
President René Préval to ask why his government would risk angering Beijing.

Préval, who confirmed the phone call in an interview with The Miami Herald, 
said he plans to discuss the issue with China in hopes of mending fences. He 
added that Haiti believes that all problems between nations, including those 
between China and Taiwan, should be discussed at the United Nations.

''We told China, we will always have the same position we've always had. That 
position is . . . -- we are not saying we are going to take sides between 
Taiwan and China -- but let's discuss the problem,'' he said. ``If they are 
upset with us all the way up to preventing [the U.N. peacekeepersfrom renewing 
their mandate, then it is unfortunate.''

Préval added that the United States, France and Canada -- key players in 
efforts to restore Haiti's stability following the 2004 ouster of President 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide -- should also work to ease the tensions between Haiti 
and China.

While some diplomats say they don't believe China will use its veto, others are 
not willing to wait until February to find out. They plan to talk to both 
sides, telling the Chinese that no harm was done since the Haitian proposal on 
Taiwan was rejected and telling Préval that regardless of Haiti's long running 
ties with Taiwan, he cannot afford such diplomatic blunders.