8143: Highlights of Radio Metropole news (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

1.   Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 31 May 01

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 31 May 01
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; May 31, 2001


"The Morning News"; figures in brackets show the time elapsed since the
start of the programme

1. [00] Headlines

2. [02] The OAS-Caricom, Caribbean Community, mission is scheduled to leave
Port-au-Prince today following a two-day visit. No agreement was reached to
get the country out of the crisis. Cesar Gaviria and Eugenia Charles had a
very busy day yesterday at the Hotel Montana where they received the
different protagonists of the crisis as well as the members of the Civil
Society Initiative Group [GISC]. Gaviria did not appear to have a proposal
for a way out of the crisis. He only spoke of his visit as a fact-finding
mission. Gaviria said: "We are exploring ideas to see how we can contribute
to solve the political situation."

3. [03] The Lavalas Family's, FL, position is unchanged regarding the
negotiations. The ruling party affirms that no other concessions can be made
apart from the concession on the Senate seats that were contested by the
OAS. This message was given clearly to the OAS and Caricom emissaries at the
Hotel Montana yesterday. The Lavalas representatives said they are opposed
to the imposition of sanctions against Haiti despite the persistence of the
crisis. The Lavalas party, which supported the embargo against Haiti during
the coup d'etat period in 1991, is now against all sanctions. The Lavalas
leaders who were at the Montana reiterated their willingness to clarify the
issue of the counting method used in the elections.

4. [07] According to the Democratic Convergence, the negotiations have not
yet started. After the meeting with the OAS and Caricom representatives at
the Montana yesterday, Paul Denis said that he hopes that talks will take
place between the Lavalas Family and the Convergence. The Convergence's
negotiating committee insisted on the need to have a face-to-face meeting
with FL so that an acceptable solution to the crisis can be found. Denis
said that the OAS delegation has tried to give its point of view on the
issue. He said: "The negotiations have not started yet because we cannot
negotiate with the OAS. Negotiations should take place between the Haitian
parties."

5. [10] The OAS and Caricom met yesterday the different protagonists of the
crisis resulting from the 21 May elections. Cesar Gaviria and Eugenia
Charles wanted to have a feel for the situation. They did not bring a
solution and had no proposal to submit to the Haitians. They just wanted to
help find that solution that seems to escape from the Haitian protagonists.
For the moment, the delegation is studying the proposals submitted by civil
society. However, the issue of isolating Haiti and applying sanctions in
case the negotiations fail was discussed with the Civil Society Initiative
Group [GISC]. Rosny Desroches of GISC said: "The mission spoke of that
isolation and the marginalization of Haiti, but it is something that they
would not like to happen. The country already has enough problems the way it
is now. As we said before, integration today is an imperative for all the
nations on the planet. Maybe they will see in what way they can find a
solution acceptable to everybody because I am sure that they listened to
what everybody had to say. However, I believe that it is through talking
with the parties in conflict that they will really specify a solution if
they should come up somehow with a solution." During the meeting on
Wednesday [30 May] with the delegation, GISC only shared information on the
electoral crisis of the year 2000 elections. GISC, moreover, drew the
attention of the international mission to the need to find a viable and
durable solution instead of a superficial one. The crisis should be tackled
in depth. Desroches went on to say: "What is important is that they should
give hope to the Haitian people once again. They should make them believe
that the democratic process is not an illusion, that their ballots should
really be taken into account and that there are good chances for democracy
to become an operational system in Haiti." After pleading in favour of a
more serious participation in the unblocking of the crisis and the
development of the country, GISC also urged the creation of a socioeconomic
council to look into public policy. It also discussed the need to create and
reinforce a national council for electoral observation, and to create a
human rights commission in the country. For, said Desroches, the respect of
human rights is constantly going downhill in Haiti.

6. [13] Ads

7. [19] Opinion poll survey.

8. [21] Senator Dany Toussaint denounced a plot hatched by former President
Rene Preval to tarnish his image. He clarified the situation for those who
say he is guilty of the murder of Jean Dominique. He cited the names of
several people who are allegedly involved in the plot.

9. [25] Former Justice Minister Camille Leblanc completely rejects the
accusation brought against him by Senator Dany Toussaint. According to
Leblanc, Senator Toussaint is just trying to clear himself of the situation
by making such a declaration. He denies any involvement in the murder of
Jean Dominique and said he is ready to collaborate with the judiciary.

10. [28] The political crisis once again paralyses activities in the
parliament. No sessions have been held this week because of the presence of
the OAS-Caricom mission in the country. The parliament functions according
to circumstances. Some of them are often busy dealing with Lavalas affairs.

11. [30] Ads followed by international news

12. [42] News summary followed by ads

13. [46] Economic segment with Kesner Pharel

14. [50] The living conditions of the Haitian population are getting worse,
according to an FAO report. One-quarter of the Haitian population eats only
once a day and suffers from malnutrition. About 10 per cent of children
between the ages of 10 and 15 suffer from chronic malnutrition.

15. [54] Students in several secondary schools have been disqualified by the
Education Ministry from taking this year's official final exams. Some
students do not meet the ministry's criteria.

16. [58] Ads

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 31 May 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.