NATIONAL DIALOGUE CHAIRMAN ANTICIPATES DESMOND

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000239 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PKAO HA SUBJECT: NATIONAL DIALOGUE CHAIRMAN ANTICIPATES DESMOND TUTU'S ARRIVAL TO HAITI ¶1. (U) Haiti's Ambassador at Large for National Dialogue Monsignor Gayot, Bishop of Cap-Haitien, met with the Charge on January 31 to discuss the arrival of South African Bishop Desmond Tutu on February 12-13. Bishop Tutu will be in Haiti to work with the National Dialogue in its effort to promote national reconciliation. Charge agreed with Gayot's expectation that Tutu would have a valuable message for all Haitians on the need for national reconciliation based on facilitating such dialogue as chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Bishop Gayot is planning to brief Tutu in Atlanta on the situation in Haiti. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: This meeting followed up a visit Charge made to the National Dialogue Commission's headquarters in mid-December. The National Dialogue Commission meets weekly, but to date has not had much impact, due mostly in part to the ongoing elections. The Commission continues to seek out donors for its mission, which is expected to begin in earnest following the elections. A visit by Bishop Tutu would provide a critically needed kick-start to the foundering National Dialogue progress but the timing is problematic; his words are likely to be overshadowed in the immediate aftermath of the results of the Febuary 7 first round of elections. CARNEY