UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001786

SIPDIS

INFO HAITI COLLECTIVE
INFO HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
INFO AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
INFO AMEMBASSY QUEBEC

FOR WHA/CAR-BNICHOLS, WHA/PDA-RQUIROZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JULY 4 SPEECH: HAITIAN TERRORISTS
WILL NOT SUCCEED



1. (U) Summary: In his speech at the embassy's annual
Independence Day reception, Ambassador Foley rallied guests
by insisting that politically motivated violence against
civilians would not succeed in derailing the elections. He
encouraged Haitian unity against violence and called all
Haitians not only to register to vote but also to demand
programmatic platforms from political parties. The speech
continues to receive widespread coverage in radio and
television outlets and has sparked positive commentary.
e commentary.
English translation follows. End Summary

AMBASSADOR FOLEY'S INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH


2. (U) Minister Bazin, members of the government and the
diplomatic corps, distinguished guests, dear friends, I
thank all of you for coming to share our celebration of the
229th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
I believe it is particularly important that we are gathered
here together Haitians, Americans and our friends from
the international community to demonstrate our solidarity
with the Haitian people in one of the most painful moments
of their history. The history of my own country has also
been punctuated by difficult trials: a civil war, two world
wars and the struggle against racial discrimination in our
society. Since September 11, 2001, we have found ourselves
once again confronted by a major challenge. That day we
were struck by the biggest terrorist attack ever known. But
the American people have not shirked from this challenge;
;
they remain determined to vanquish this scourge regardless
of the cost for us and regardless of how long it takes.


3. (U) This experience has made us extremely aware of the
difficulties the Haitian people are currently experiencing.
Today in Haiti, people are burning homes; they are burning
stores; they are attacking transportation and communication
links; they are kidnapping people of all social classes;
they are assassinating, torturing and raping. The June 1st
attack on the Tete Boeuf market was unimaginably savage;

the attackers shot at people so that they would perish
inside the market that they had torched. 4,000 merchants
and employees lost their livelihoods.


4. (U) All of this has a name. The use of violence against
civilians for political purposes is the very definition of
terrorism. The difference with our experience is that in
Haiti this is happening silently, daily and secretly. The
terrorists do not dare to reveal themselves; they do not
dare to claim responsibility for their actions. There are
certainly criminal and shadowy elements who have aligned
with the political masterminds, and whose participation
only makes the political aims all the more illegitimate.
But for the most part we know what is involved and who is
involved. That is why Ambassador Valdes condemned certain
so-called political representatives who attend meetings
with the United Nations while at the same time planning
violence against the United Nations forces.


5. (U) The people responsible for the violence can
certainly still do more harm. They are strong when it comes
to destruction. However, they are incapable of building
anything. In fact, their use of violence is a sign of
weakness. They claim to represent many Haitians, but in
fact they terrorize them and hold them hostage, preventing
any possibility of an economic recovery that would benefit
the population. They claim to be popular, but in reality
they are afraid of the elections. They commit terrorist
acts in order to destroy the electoral process and retake
power to serve their own interests. Above all they seek to
prevent the people from freely choosing their next leaders.


6. (U) But they will not succeed. First of all because they
need anonymity, and this they no longer enjoy. There is not
a single responsible government in the world that will
treat with those spreading terror in Haiti. In continuing
with their campaign of destruction and destabilization,
they are excluding themselves politically.


7. (U) They will not succeed as well because they do not
have the support of the people. The people want peace and
economic progress. This requires a return of tranquility,
which is the only way to profit from international
assistance and to attract investments critical to economic
recovery.


8. (U) They will not succeed, finally, because the
international community will not give in to terrorist
pressure. The solidarity of the international community
will be manifested. MINUSTAH and all the members of the
United Nations that support it will create the climate
necessary for holding free and independent elections in
Haiti.


9. (U) However, to succeed we also need the support of all
elements of Haitian society. There needs first of all to be
a surge of national unity against violence and in favor of
the rebuilding of the country. The reshuffled transition
government now has the road map of the Council of Wise Men,
supported by civil society, to implement. What is needed is
to make rapid and concrete progress in the areas of
security, elections preparation and in the struggle against
misery in the most afflicted neighborhoods. The Provisional
Electoral Council also must bestir itself and finally play
effectively its role in preparing the elections. And the
political parties themselves have a great responsibility in
the success of the transition. They should seek to
establish unity on behalf of the supreme interests of the
nation first by condemning, without exception, the use of
violence for political ends; and then by working for the
amalgamation of political parties and candidacies in order
to give the people coherent and viable choices at the time
of the elections.


10. (U) Here this evening, the theme of our celebration is
Democracy for all. Around this theme we have organized an
exhibit of democratic movements around the world in Asia,
Europe, the United States and Haiti. Each photo bears
witness to the desire of every human being to shape his
destiny by voting for the candidates of his choice.


11. (U) On this occasion I therefore launch an appeal to
all Haitians to go register for the elections so that you
can indeed shape your destiny. I know that in the present
circumstances it is very difficult to see a way out of the
current situation. But the key to change is in your hands.
You not only have to register, but you should also mobilize
yourselves to demand specific plans from the political
l
parties and eventual candidates as to how they would change
the country. You have had too much experience with
politicians who make promises that they do not keep, and
who seek power in order to profit themselves from power.


12. (U) Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to close by
recalling the recent visit to Haiti of a great American,
Ambassador Andrew Young, whose personal witness and
experience are relevant to the current situation in Haiti.
Ambassador Young was a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.; he was present at his assassination. He
explained to us how he and his other colleagues decided to
forego vengeance and instead continue on a peaceful path to
obtain the changes for which Dr. King gave his life. He
also explained how as mayor of Atlanta he managed to bring
together all the social classes to work for the common
good. He was able to persuade the wealthy that it was in
their interest that the economy benefit the whole
population, even in the most underprivileged communities.
Today, the remarkable prosperity of Atlanta is the result
of the reconciliation and collaboration among all social
classes that Ambassador Young was able to foster, so that
the American dream would become accessible to all.


13. (U) There is a need for this kind of dream in Haiti
today. There needs to be an outpouring of solidarity among
brothers and sisters of this country in order to finally
end the violence that has blighted the history of Haiti; to
turn the page on these most difficult past 20 years; and to
go forward towards democracy and economic progress for all.
The United States is linked forever to Haiti. You can count
on the American people to help you and to accompany you all
along this difficult but unavoidable path.

FOLEY