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News from the Caribbean as of
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EU increases aid to Haiti
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
BRUSSELS, (Reuters): The European Union announced an increase in development aid for Haiti on Tuesday, in a show of support for visiting President Rene Preval and his newly elected government.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said EU aid to the troubled Caribbean nation would rise to 233 million euros ($293 million) for the 2008-13 period from the 168 million set aside to cover 2002-7.
"We think developments are in the right direction," Barroso told a news conference after talks with Preval in Brussels.
EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said the money would go towards education and infrastructure projects such as roads. A further tranche of aid would be made available if Haiti reached targets on good governance, he said.
A new Haitian government was sworn in earlier this month to replace the team of outgoing Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, put in place after former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was pushed from office by a bloody rebellion in 2004.
Preval, a one-time Aristide protege, rode support from Aristide's supporters in the slums to victory in the Feb. 7 presidential election.
"The most important thing now is up to the Haitians themselves -- good governance," said Preval.
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