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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN
SEPTEMBER 29, 1994
REMARKS BY
SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRIST0PHER
TO THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 29, 1994
Mr. President, distinguished member of the Security
Council, colleagues, and friends. I am pleased to
have the opportunity to review with you the status
of our efforts in Haiti.
This Council continues to play a vital role in
giving Haiti's people a chance to take back their
destiny. Our shared determination is delivering
tangible results. The military leaders will step
down. Legitimate government will be restored. The
people of Haiti will have a chance to rebuild their
country on a stable foundation of democracy and
respect for human rights.
The multinational coalition is the culmination of
three years of intensive, coordinated efforts by the
United Nations, the Organization of American States,
and the friends and neighbors of Haiti. Since the
1991 coup, this Council has viewed the overthrow of
democracy in Haiti as a threat to regional security
and to international norms. We recognized our
responsibility to stand together for stability and
the restoration of democratic government in the
Western Hemisphere.
Together, we explored every avenue to achieve a
peaceful resolution. We negotiated in good faith.
We imposed and then strengthened sanctions. We made
plain to the military leaders that their tyranny in
Haiti was neither tolerable nor tenable.
For almost three years, they met our efforts with
defiance and disdain. In July 1993, General Cedras
signed the Governors Island Agreement, which had
been negotiated under U.N. auspices. But he refused
to implement the accord. Instead, widespread
atrocities continued. Three months ago, the
military leaders expelled the monitors sent by the
U.N. and the OAS to encourage respect for human
right. This Council then determined that the time
had come to take decisive action.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 940 and the
multinational coalition it authorized are an
expression of our collective resolve. An expanding
coalition of 28 nations, geographically diverse as
Bangladesh, Benin, and Bolivia, has been forged in
pursuit of a common cause.
This partnership is in the best tradition of the
United Nations. It is grounded in principled
diplomacy, and it is backed by the determination to
use force if necessary. Our willingness to exercise
military might, pursuant to Resolution 940, allowed
us to reach an agreement for the peaceful
restoration of democracy that has made the mission
safer for our coalition and the Haitian people. It
is enabling us to implement our common goals: the
departure from power of the de facto leaders, the
restoration of Haiti's legitimate government, and
the return of President Aristide. It is allowing us
to establish a safe and secure environment more
quickly than would otherwise have been possible.
As leader of the multinational coalition in Haiti,
the United States values and depends on close
consultation with other Member States. Let me
report to you on our progress. As you know, the
first 3,000 soldier stepped off their helicopters
and landing craft on September 19. Since then their
ranks have grown to almost 16,000.
The coalition has taken swift and important steps
toward establishing a secure and stable environment.
Among the immediate priorities was to secure the
airport in Port-au-Prince and seaports around the
country. With the transportation hubs under
control, we have moved nearly 42,OOO tons of
supplies into Haiti.
Another important element of promoting security is
reducing the number of guns on the streets. The
coalition is taking a variety of measures to achieve
that goal. Finally, hundreds of coalition personnel
are in training in Puerto Rico, on their way to
oversee and monitor the police in Haiti. The first
group of international police monitors will arrive
in Haiti in the next few days. With the coalition's
deployment, the time has come to prepare for the
resumption of normal economic activity in Haiti.
The United States and Haiti have introduced, with
President Aristide's support, a resolution in the
Council to lift U.N. sanctions completely when
President Aristide returns. By passing this
resolution, we will reinforce Haitian democracy.
And we will signal our readiness to support Haiti's
recovery when democratic government is restored.
As President Clinton announced on Monday, we will
act expeditiously, consistent with Resolutions 917
and 940, to allow goods essential to the coalition's
efforts to enter Haiti. In addition, the United
States will lift all unilateral sanctions on Haiti
except those targeted on the coup leaders and their
named supporters. We urge other nations to do the
same.
Part of the coalition's task is to create conditions
in which refugees can safely return. Reassured that
they can walk their streets, speak their minds, and
sleep in their homes without fear, hundreds of
Haitians have voluntarily left Guantanamo for Haiti
since September 26. We are confident that with
President Aristide's restoration, many more will
want to go back to their homeland.
I believe that political developments in Haiti are
also cause for optimism. Two weeks ago, President
Aristide eloquently demonstrated his commitment to
democracy when he said that the true test of a
democracy is its second free election. He has
called repeatedly for a spirit of reconciliation,
and he is making frequent radio statements urging
the people of Haiti to remain calm and to avoid
disrupting a peaceful transition.
President Aristide has also called the Haitian
parliament into session with an amnesty law as its
first order of business. As you know, the
parliament began its deliberations yesterday. Only
two weeks ago, many Haitian parliamentarians were in
holding, fearful for their lives, or in exile. Now
the presence of coalition forces permits them to
emerge and to represent the Haitian people in
safety.
Another hopeful step forward is occurring today.
Mayor Evans Paul, barred from City Hall by armed
thugs last year, will reclaim his rightful office.
We should all be proud of the superb efforts of the
coalition force in Haiti. We should remember that
two weeks ago, elements of the Haitian security
forces and the attaches were free to intimidate the
public with impunity .
Today, coalition forces allow Haitians to enjoy
their first respite from terror in three year. The
compassion and the competence of these troops have
inspired the confidence of the Haitian people.
We all know that in Haiti, the international
community has taken on a serious challenge. Our
courageous troops will face difficult, and sometimes
dangerous, situations. There will be setbacks and
risks, and we must be ready for them. Our hard work
and commitment are essential. But we have the plans
and the determination to move ahead.
A top priority for the coalition is enabling the
U.N. Mission to enter Haiti promptly under
conditions that will allow it to assume its full
responsibilities. The United States will do its
part to ensure an early and smooth transfer of
authority. Twelve observers from UNMIH are in Haiti
to coordinate with the coalition. They are working
closely with General Shelton.
Just as the coalition is fulfilling its mandate, so
the U.N. Mission in Haiti must be ready to assume
responsibility when a safe environment has been
restored. Most of the nations participating in the
coalition, including the United States, have
indicated they will also participate in UNMIH. A
number of other states have expressed an interest in
joining. Clearly, the continued support of the
Council, Member States and the Secretary General
will be essential to ensure that the transition is
seamless and effective.
Our mission in Haiti reminds us once again of the
importance of effective U.N. peace operations. The
United States is providing $1.2 billion for
peacekeeping this year--a major step toward meeting
our obligations. We have also proposed reforms to
improve the way in which operations are financed,
equipped, and organized. When we ask the U.N. to
act, as we have in Haiti, we must provide it with
the means for mounting successful missions in a
timely manner.
The coalition will establish and the U.N. mission
will help maintain a secure environment in Haiti.
But the broader international community must provide
Haiti with the economic, humanitarian, and technical
aid that will spur development and consolidate
democracy. An extensive humanitarian assistance
program is already under way. Food, medicine, and
medical supplies are being distributed. Sanitation
is being improved. Engineering teams are helping to
restore electricity.
Last month, a World Bank meeting of many countries
represented here today favorably reviewed President
Aristide's economic recovery program. The United
States has already committed $100 million and is
ready to provide additional aid. But our effort
must be part of a much larger undertaking. We look
to other nations and the international financial
institutions to respond rapidly and generously.
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