US-Caricom security meeting shelved in rift over Haiti's participation
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): A security meeting
between the United States and the Caribbean Community was called off after
Caribbean leaders refused to sit with representatives of Haiti's interim
government, Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington said Tuesday.
The United States insisted Haitian representatives be allowed to attend. But
leaders of the 15-nation group have backed exiled former Haitian president
Jean Bertrand Aristide's claim he was forced from power and have refused to
recognize the interim government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.
Cooperation against terrorism was a major issue to be discussed at the May 3
meeting in the Bahamas. "I agree that
security is very important to all of us but I think that the very first thing
that is of importance is the nature and regard for our community and you
cannot compromise on that principle," Carrington said.
Caricom leaders have said they will not recognize the interim Haitian
government until at least July, when a summit is planned to discuss the issue.
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