GODR PRESIDENT MEJIA PUBLICLY DENIES AIDING

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001696

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (MCISAAC)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL DR
SUBJECT: GODR PRESIDENT MEJIA PUBLICLY DENIES AIDING
HAITIAN REBELS

REF: SANTO DOMINGO


1. (U) President Mejia commented extensively on March 11 to
a journalist from Hoy newspaper, a respected daily in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic. insisting that the GODR was not
involved in helping Haitian rebels in any manner.


2. (U) Begin unofficial translation:

MEJIA DENIES SUPPORTING REBELS IN HAITI

President Hipolito Mejia yesterday denied rumors that are
circulating among diplomats and in the U.S. Congress that the
Dominican government is supporting the Haitian rebels that
rose up against President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

"I want to take this opportunity to say that we, in regard to
the Haitian conflict, have shown great respect for the
(Haitian) people, the government, society and the dignity of
the Haitians," assured President Mejia.

"We have not provoked nor thrown fuel on the fire of this
environment already charged with conflict, nor (have we)
supported them with weapons that have lead to deaths, nor
(have we) given them any other type of support," said the
President, on his own initiative, during a ceremony honoring
a Puerto Rican priest, Rafael Candelas Morales, for his many
years of residency in the country.

"We have maintained good control (over the crisis in Haiti)
in order to avoid any misunderstanding," said Mejia, who also
mentioned that the Dominican Republic has been complimented
for not having been "opposed" to the deteriorating situation
of the neighboring state. He didn't say who offered their
compliments.

"We ask God to help that country (Haiti) to leave behind its
worries, the overwhelmingly grave problems that it has,"
added Mejia at the ceremony that took place in his office.

In diplomatic and media circles there has been speculation
about the supposed backing (of Haitian rebels),including the
presumed arms supply to a leader of a group headed by the
former Haitian police director, Guy Philippe, who stated that
he entered Haiti by crossing the Dominican border.

More recently, Congressman Donald Payne, Democrat from New
Jersey, requested the government of the United States to
explain why it had sold 3,500 guns to the Dominican Republic,
believing that this country (Dominican Republic) is the place
where the former Haitian paramilitary leaders organized their
rebellion against the Aristide government.

The Secretary of Dominican Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Jose Miguel
Soto Jimenez, denied that arms were purchased.

Mejia identified with a phrase used by the deposed President
Aristide and said that Haiti and the Dominican Republic "are
two wings of the same bird," but he emphasized that, "much of
the mischief that our Haitian brothers make (in Haiti),we
must understand and accept," an obvious allusion to the
political instability. "I have said that we are a marriage
without a divorce," said the leader.

Manuel Jimenez, Editor of Hoy.

(End of unofficial translation.)
KUBISKE