Software Vault: The Gold Collection/Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO/cdr11/clin0610.zip/ZQ000010.TXT

Text File | 1993-06-10 | 6KB | 127 lines

                         THE WHITE HOUSE

                  Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                   June 4, 1993


                    STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
                    ON SANCTIONS AGAINST HAITI


One of the cornerstones of our foreign policy is to support the
global march toward democracy and to stand by the world's new
democracies.  The promotion of democracy, which not only reflects
our values but also increases our security, is especially
important in our own Hemisphere.  As part of that goal, I
consider it a high priority to return democracy to Haiti and to
return its democratically-elected President, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, to his office.

We should recall Haiti's strides toward democracy just a few
years back.  Seven years ago, tired of the exploitative rule that
had left them the poorest nation in our Hemisphere, the Haitian
people rose up and forced the dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier to
flee.  In December 1990, in a remarkable exercise of democracy,
the Haitian people held a free and fair election -- and
two-thirds of them voted for President Aristide.

Nineteen months ago, however, that progress toward democracy was
thwarted when the Haitian military illegally and violently ousted
President Aristide from office.  Since taking office in January,
the United States Government has worked steadily with the
international community in an effort to restore President
Aristide and democracy to Haiti.  The OAS and United Nations
Special Envoy, Dante Caputo, has demonstrated great dedication
and tenacity.  To support Mr. Caputo's effort, Secretary of State
Christopher in March named U.S. Ambassador Lawrence Pezzullo as
our Special Adviser for Haiti.

We and the international community have made progress.  The
presence of the International Civilian Mission has made a
concrete contribution to human rights in Haiti.  Mr. Caputo's
consultations with all the parties indicated that a negotiated
solution is possible.

Unfortunately, the parties in Haiti have not been willing to make
the decisions or take the steps necessary to begin democracy's
restoration.  And while they seek to shift responsibility,
Haiti's people continue to suffer.

In light of their own failure to act constructively, I have
determined that the time has come to increase the pressure on the
Haitian military, the de facto regime in Haiti and their
supporters.

The U.S. has been at the forefront of the international
community's efforts to back up the UN/OAS negotiations with
sanctions and other measures.  Beginning in October 1991, we

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froze all Haitian government assets in the United States and
prohibited unlicensed financial transactions with Haitian
persons.  Today, I am acting to strengthen those existing
provisions in several ways.

First, I have signed a Proclamation pursuant to Section 212(f) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibiting the entry into
the U.S. of Haitian nationals who impede the progress of
negotiations designed to restore constitutional government to
Haiti and of the immediate relatives of such persons.  The
Secretary of State will determine the persons whose actions are
impeding a solution to the Haitian crisis.  These people will be
barred from entering the United States.

Second, pursuant to the authority of the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act and the Executive Orders on the Haiti
emergency, I have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to
designate as "Specially Designated Nationals" those Haitians who
act for or on behalf of the Junta, or who make material,
financial or commercial contributions to the de facto regime or
the Haitian Armed Forces.  In effect, this measure will freeze
the personal assets of such persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
and bar them from conducting any transactions whatsoever with the
individuals and entities named.

Third, I have directed Secretary Christopher to consult with the
OAS and its member states on ways to enhance enforcement of the
existing OAS sanctions program.  And I have directed Secretary
Christopher and Ambassador Albright to consult with the UN and
member states on the possibility of creating a worldwide
sanctions program against Haiti.

Sanctions alone do not constitute a solution.  The surest path
toward the restoration of democracy in Haiti is a negotiated
solution that assures the safety of all parties.  We will
therefore strongly support a continuation and intensification of
the negotiating effort.  We will impress on all parties the need
to take seriously their own responsibilities for a successful
resolution to this impasse.

Our policy on Haiti is not a policy for Haiti alone.  It is a
policy in favor of democracy everywhere.  Those who seek to
derail a return to constitutional government -- whether in Haiti
or Guatemala -- must recognize that we will not be swayed from
our purpose.

At the same time, individuals should not have to fear that
supporting democracy's restoration will ultimately put their own
safety at risk.  Those who have opposed President Aristide in the
past should recognize that, once President Aristide has returned,
we and the rest of the international community will defend
assiduously their legitimate political rights.

It is my hope that the measures we have announced today will
encourage greater effort and flexibility in the negotiations to
restore democracy and President Aristide to Haiti.

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