US urges dialogue between Haitian president, opposition

Thursday, January 15, 2004

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States on Wednesday called on embattled Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide to start a dialogue with the opposition as demonstrations and unrest continued to plague the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The State Department said US President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell had both made the case for a dialogue during a meeting with Caribbean leaders, including Aristide, at this week's Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico.

"Both the secretary and the president encouraged President Aristide very strongly to engage in dialogue with the Haitian opposition to try to resolve these issues," spokesman Richard Boucher said.

There have been indications that Aristide, who on Tuesday pledged to hold legislative elections within six months in a bid to defuse mounting unrest, may soon meet with opposition leaders in the Bahamas.

Boucher said he could not confirm the proposed meeting would go ahead but said Washington would welcome such talks of they occurred.

"It's certainly something that we would encourage," he told reporters.

Aristide's offer, which did not include a specific date for the polls, came as Haiti's legislative process ground to a halt on Monday with the expiration of the terms of 83 deputies and two-thirds of the nation's 27 senators because new elections have not been called.

In Haiti, though, where months of opposition protests and violence have claimed several dead and dozens of wounded, the opposition rejected the overture.

The opposition has been demanding that Aristide step down since legislative elections in May 2000, which opponents said were fixed by his ruling Lavalas party.

Accused of corruption and mismanagement Aristide still has two years of his five-year term to serve but refuses to step down.

The Haitian church has proposed setting up a special council, made up of representatives from political parties, different religions and human rights groups, to help Aristide organise elections.

The president has said he welcomes the plan but the opposition maintains there can be no progress without Aristide's resignation. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version