Canada to send police, funding to Haiti
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP): Prime Minister Paul
Martin said Monday that Canada will send 100 police officers to Haiti in the
next three months to help stabilize the Caribbean nation as international
peacekeeping troops are withdrawn. Talking to
reporters after a cabinet meeting, Martin said: "By participating in this
mission, Canada is confirming its ongoing commitment to assist the Haitian
government in ensuring security and stability in the country."
Martin emphasized that Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, was
important to Canada both in terms of regional security and because of the
large ethnic Haitian population in Canada.
"Re-establishment of the rule of law is essential for all other economic,
social and political efforts to succeed," he said.
The Canadian police will join the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, known by
the acronym MINUSTAH. Foreign Minister Bill Graham said Canada would provide
the police for two years. International
Development Minister Aileen Carroll, who will attend a July 17-18 meeting of
Haiti donor countries in Washington, said Canada would also give more money
for humanitarian relief, but added that the amount depends on the outcome of
the donor meeting. A rebellion in February
forced Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to flee the country. After the
uprising, the United States and France deployed troops to Haiti, but a UN
force took over last month. The
Brazilian-commanded UN force is expected eventually to total 6,700 soldiers,
1,622 police officers and 900 civil servants. The Brazilian contingent of
1,200 soldiers is already in place.
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
