PREVAL EMPHASIZES DRUG TRAFFICKING, SECURITY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001973

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL EMPHASIZES DRUG TRAFFICKING, SECURITY AND
DONOR DISBURSEMENTS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE

PORT AU PR 00001973 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

(C) 1. Summary: During a 24 hour visit to Haiti in support
of the Haiti Support Project, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson
Lee met President Rene Preval October 9 to discuss
U.S.-Haitian relations. President Preval asked for the
Congresswoman's recognition of continued drug trafficking
through Haiti to the U.S., which adds to the insecurity in
Port-au-Prince. He acknowledged that the security situation
had improved over the past month, although he said it is too
soon to call GOH efforts a success. Preval also stressed the
importance of rapid donor disbursements for the current
fiscal year, complaining that disbursements are often slower
than promised. The Congresswoman's visit was well received
by the local press, particularly her message that the Haitian
Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement
(HOPE) Act still may pass the U.S. Congress this year. End
Summary.

(SBU) 2. Congresswoman Jackson Lee came to Haiti on an
unofficial visit October 8 - 9. She traveled down Route
National 1 adjacent to the Cite Soleil slum to see Minustah
deployments, visited a private children's hospital funded by
USAID, and met with President Preval. As the first member of
Congress to visit Haiti since Preval's inauguration, the
Congresswoman congratulated the President on a successful
inauguration and tenure so far, and encouraged him to visit
Washington to push HOPE legislation. She told President
Preval that at the most recent Hemispheric sub-committee
meeting Haiti received high marks, particularly concerning
its human rights advances, from administration witnesses.

Fighting Drug Trafficking is Beyond Haitis Capacity
- - - - - - - - - -
(C) 3. When ased by the Congresswoman how the U.S.-Haitian
reltionship could be strengthened, Preval said that Hiti's
needs were accurately identified at the Jul donors,
conference. However, he specified thatdrug trafficking to
the U.S. was one of the his primary concerns. Haiti is
neither a producer nor consumer, yet dealing with the
resulting insecurity is beyond the capacity of the national
police force (HNP),according to Preval. The President
suggested that the U.S. and Haiti should update the accord
signed in 1998 that gave the Coast Guard access to Haitian
waters. As an aside, he joked that "refugees" leaving Haiti
are stopped by the Coast Guard but that drugs en route to the
U.S. are not.

The GOH makes Progress on the Security Climate
- - - - - - - - - -
(SBU) 4. Preval acknowledged that the security climate in
Port-au-Prince has improved, but said that he thought it was
too soon to publicize GOH progress on security. The
government's objective, he added, is to disarm or at least
keep the guns off the streets, and stop the inflow of weapons
and ammunition to Haiti. He also noted that the HNP was
moving into areas previously considered off limits. He
explained that the security situation required his personal
attention which is why he missed several international events
like the UN general assembly meeting in New York and the
conference for the non-aligned movement in Cuba.

Donors Should Speed up Disbursements
- - - - - - - - - -
(SBU) 5. Preval decried slow donor disbursements and asked
the Congresswoman take this message back to Washington. He
also mentioned that investments from the U.S. -- both purely
commercial investments and potential investments from the
Haitian diaspora -- would help alleviate Haiti's economic
struggle.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee says HOPE is not Dead
- - - - - - - - - -
(U) 6. The local press reported that the Congresswoman would
take a positive image of Haiti back to her colleagues on the
hill to encourage increased U.S. assistance to Haiti.
Concerning HOPE, the Congresswoman let the Haitian press know
that the legislation still had a chance to pass the U.S.
Congress, as early as November or December of this year.

PORT AU PR 00001973 002.2 OF 002



(C) 7. Comment: The high-level visit, especially one that
could confirm Haiti's continued presence on the minds of U.S.
politicians, clearly pleased the President. Preval was at
ease during the meeting and appeared confident regarding GOH
progress on security. He kept the meeting light, commenting
on his pleasure in receiving a phone call October 7 from
Secretary Rice despite her many "friends who keep her busy,"

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and joking about the U.S. Coast Guard's ability to stop
"refugees" but not drugs. End comment.

(U) 8. Congresswoman Jackson Lee did not clear this message
prior to her departure.
SANDERSON