30838: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-UN-Peacekeepers (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By STEVENSON JACOBS

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 1 (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon said
Wednesday he will recommend peacekeepers stay in Haiti for at least another
year and urged world donors to redouble efforts to ensure the impoverished
nation does not backslide into chaos.
   In his first visit to the country, Ban credited an 8,800-strong
peacekeeping force, known as Minustah, with restoring security following a
violent 2004 revolt but said President Rene Preval still needs help
bringing jobs and development to the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.
   "The international community must not step aside and let spoilers
jeopardize Haiti's progress," Ban told reporters during a joint news
conference with Preval at Haiti's National Palace.
   The U.N. force was deployed to Haiti after a revolt toppled former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and plunged the former French colony of 8
million people into crisis. Backed by Preval, peacekeepers this year
concluded a fierce crackdown on armed gangs that has led to a dramatic
reduction in violence in Port-au-Prince's vast, fetid slums.
   But Ban said the situation is fragile and that he would ask the U.N.
Security Council to extend the mandate for another 12 months when it
expires in October. He noted the U.N. has been sent to Haiti on five
occasions and would stay "until the future is secure."
   Preval said he supports keeping U.N. troops in the country for now and
urged his countrymen not to oppose the force out of nationalism.
   "The population has benefited from the presence of Minustah," Preval
said. "What is good for the country is for the U.N. to help us reinforce
our police and our security. As time goes on, we'll evaluate what form this
assistance should take and how long it should last."
   Ban praised Preval for taking a stand against corruption and seeking
much-needed reforms to the police, judiciary and prison system. He is
expected to ask the Security Council for more specialized forces such as
naval units to help the Caribbean country guard its coastline from weapons
and drug traffickers.
   Despite the improved security, U.N. officials say gangs, drug
trafficking and poverty are still a threat to the country and that
peacekeepers will be needed at least until Preval's term ends in 2011.
   Haiti is still struggling after a century marked by foreign occupations,
the 29-year Duvalier family dictatorship and bloody military coups.
   U.N. peacekeepers provide 85 percent of Haiti's security needs, but the
government is working to eventually take over. The national police academy
is preparing hundreds of recruits to bolster the nation's 6,000-police
force.