CARICOM to restore ties with Haiti
Monday, July 5, 2004
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Caribbean Community
countries are expected to restore ties with Haiti's interim government at the
CARICOM summit meeting in Grenada on July 4-7, according to reports from
Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti.
Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue
announced Saturday that his country will attend the annual summit, saying
Haitian people wants to normalize the relations with the Caribbean countries.
Haiti's interim government temporarily
suspended the country's membership in CARICOM on March 15 in protest of the
15-member bloc's hesitance to recognize the new leadership after ousted
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left the country on February 29.
Haitian Foreign Minister Yvon Simeon said he
was to meet with seven Caribbean prime ministers Saturday night as a step
toward possible recognition by CARICOM.
Simeon, who has already had talks with those
countries' foreign ministers, said he was optimistic about restoring ties.
"There have been a lot of misunderstandings
and mis-interpretations. We're willing to clarify these for CARICOM," he said.
Simeon departed to Grenada on Friday to take
part in the meeting.
Haiti was the last nation to formally join
the CARICOM in 2002. Its eight-million population is greater than all the
remaining 14 member states combined.
At the four-day summit, CARICOM will discuss
such issues as the struggling sugar industry, progress in establishing a
European-style single market and a regional court to replace Britain's Privy
Council.
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