Powell rejects probe into Aristide's departure
by Matthew Lee
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): US Secretary of
State Colin Powell on Monday rejected calls for a UN probe into the departure
of former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, as the troubled country's
interim administration announced elections for next year.
Powell, in Haiti to show support for the US-backed transitional government,
insisted that Aristide's resignation and flight into exile on February 29 had
prevented a "bloodbath" in the violence-wracked impoverished Caribbean nation.
Meanwhile, Haiti's Prime Minister Gerard Latortue announced that he and
Haiti's fractious political rivals had agreed for general elections --
municipal, legislative and presidential -- to be held next year.
"A political agreement has been reached between the political parties and the
representatives of civil society for general elections to be held in 2005," he
told a news conference with Powell. The
15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) has demanded a UN inquiry into the
events leading up to Aristide's departure in the face of a mounting rebellion
and international pressure. Caricom has also refused to recognise the interim
government. But Powell said: "I don't think
that any purpose would be served by such an inquiry."
He insisted that Aristide took the lead in his resignation and asked US
ambassador to Haiti James Foley to help him leave the country.
"He drafted and signed his letter of resignation all by himself and then
voluntarily departed with his wife and his own security team," Powell said.
Aristide, who is now in Jamaica, has claimed he was forced to leave by the
United States and France, which are leading the 3,600 strong international
stabilization force now in Haiti. His lawyers have filed a lawsuit in Paris
against US, French and Haitian officials claiming he was kidnapped.
Powell did not address the lawsuit but said Haiti had been on the verge of a
"total security collapse" before Aristide left and US and French troops led an
international stabilisation force. "I believe
we prevented a bloodbath from taking place," Powell said of the international
action. Latortue, whose government has said
it wants Aristide extradited to face legal action, was also bitterly critical
of the former leader. "The country is in a
state of total bankruptcy," Latortue said. "Those who were here before left
the country with absolutely nothing." The
secretary of state also said the United States would contribute nine million
dollars to an Organisation for American States 'democracy mission' in Haiti.
"Today the Haitian people have the chance for a new beginning," Powell said.
"I urge the proud people of Haiti to come together in peace, to seize this new
chance to put your country firmly on the path to democracy."
Latortue and Powell said that government service would be "open to all
Haitians who reject violence and are committed to democracy." The US official
added that his country would work hard to reintegrate Haiti into Caricom.
"We call on all armed groups to lay down their weapons and allow the
reconstituted authorities to impose the rule of law," Powell said.
At Port-au-Prince airport, Powell met the commanders of the international
force in Haiti. About 2,000 of the international troops are American.
He also met the interim government's foreign minister, Yvon Simeon, and,
surrounded by intense security, went to an HIV clinic in Port-au-Prince where
he announced a boost in US funding for the facility from 2.1 million to 3.6
million dollars in 2004. Powell last visited
Haiti in 1994, when he, former president Jimmy Carter and former US senator
Sam Nunn came to convince military leaders to hand power back to Aristide, who
was ousted eight months after taking office in 1990.
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