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U.S. Department of State 93/02/05 Excerpts from remarks before meeting with Haitian President Office of the Spokesman Secretary of State Warren Christoher Excerpts from remarks before a meeting with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Washington, DC. February 5, 1993 As you know, 2 years ago this week, President Aristide was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of Haiti, and that's an important anniversary. Tragically, not long after he was elected, he was overthrown by a coup, and, in the period since then, the people of Haiti have been through great anguish and suffering. As a result, I thought it was appropriate at the present time, on this anniversary, to ask to see [President Aristide] to assure him that the Clinton Administration is strongly committed to work through the United Nations and the OAS [Organization of American States] to restore democracy in Haiti and to see that he returns to finish out his mandate and to have a restoration of democracy in Haiti. The time in Haiti has been a very difficult one. It's frustrating and a very tough situation. But those who hold illegal power there should know that they're swimming against the tide of history and that they will not prevail. And so, on this anniversary, we are very pleased to welcome President Aristide here to the State Department and to assure him of our strong support for the restoration of democracy in Haiti and for his return when that is possible. (###)