*EPF202 02/17/2004
White House Focuses on Diplomatic Solution to Haiti Crisis
(White House Report, Feb. 17, 2004) (250)

The White House said February 17 that it is focusing on achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Haiti between the government and opposition groups, working closely with the Caribbean community and the Organization of American States.

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan, addressing Haiti developments, said "Our focus right now is on working with our partners in the hemisphere to bring about a peaceful resolution to the situation." He noted that Secretary of State Colin Powell met February 13 in Washington with leaders of CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) to discuss the issue.

Powell told reporters February 17 that the United States was working to have the government and opposition open a dialogue to defuse tensions, but he said there could be no negotiations with the armed gangs that are battling police in Haiti.

"The opposition forces have taken on new dimensions. Some reflect political opposition leaders, but we also have thugs who can't reasonably be called opposition. And we also have some individuals coming back into the country ... they are murderers, thugs and we can't expect anyone to deal with these kinds of individuals," Powell said.

Violence in Haiti broke out on February 5 and spread to several towns, where police stations were attacked and ports and warehouses were looted, but reached an uneasy stalemate as armed government supporters joined police in hunting down rebels and setting on fire homes and businesses of opponents.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents