PREVAL IN WASHINGTON: SEEKING STATUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000559 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2010 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: PREVAL IN WASHINGTON: SEEKING STATUS Classified By: DCM Douglas M. Griffiths for reasons 1.4(b). ¶1. (C) President elect Rene Garcia Preval's goal for his visit to the White House and State Department is to send an unequivocal message to Haitians at home and observers abroad that the USG is fully committed to supporting his government. He believes that a meeting with President Bush (and the accompanying photo-op) would be the most tangible demonstration of that commitment. Beyond that, he will bring a large delegation of advisors and supporters from various sectors to witness the show of support he expects to receive from his interlocutors. Preval has frequently communicated his firm desire to maintain close relations with the United States, most notably during his March 12 meeting in Santiago, Chile with Secretary Rice. We should reassure him that we want him to succeed, and stand ready to supply the tools to help him institutionalize transparent and democratic institutions. Preval has declined invitations to visit France, Cuba, and Venezuela in order to visit Washington first. Preval has close personal ties to Cuba, having received prostate cancer treatment there, but has stressed to the Embassy that he will manage relations with Cuba and Venezuela solely for the benefit of the Haitian people, and not based on any ideological affinity toward those governments. ¶2. (C) In the period between his election and his inauguration, which he now expects to occur in mid-May, Preval has concentrated on bolstering Haiti's international support and in his words "appearing presidential," while avoiding sensitive domestic issues before his government is in place. Preval will cover a well-rehearsed set of points both with the USG and in his meetings at the UN and the OAS. He has consistently stated that his priorities are strengthening Haiti's institutions, particularly those that decentralize political power, and the encouragement of private investment and job creation. Preval has also stressed the importance of fighting corruption and implementing police reform. The Ambassador has encouraged Preval's advisors to communicate his vision for Haiti's future as a prosperous democratic society, rather than present a laundry list of requests for assistance. ¶3. (C) That said, Preval has clear goals for the visit. He wants to bury once and for all the suspicion in Haiti that the United States is wary of him. He is seeking to enhance his status domestically and internationally with a successful visit to the United States. In his frequent meetings with us, he has repeatedly stressed that he wants to move Haiti from reliance on development assistance, to growth through private investment - both foreign and domestic. He wants international development assistance to facilitate that transition through investment in Haiti's weak institutions, in education and in agriculture. Investment is the key to employment generation, which Preval insists is the only way to build a more stable society. For team Preval, access to the U.S. market would boost employment generation. Preval will push preferential trade legislation on his trip to the United States, and will be accompanied by a number of private sector representatives. He will likely reiterate the issue of combating drug trafficking. Preval believes that he had only lukewarm U.S. cooperation on drugs during his first mandate. We have reassured him of our full commitment, but he will be looking for U.S. planes and boats in the complete absence of Haitian resources. Preval has also repeatedly underscored the need for skilled advisors to re-build Haitian institutions. We are ready to commit existing USAID funds to support him. ¶4. (C) Preval has decisively broken with former President Aristide and the Famni Lavalas party. He has asked all of this international supporters to help make clear to the government of South Africa that he does not welcome Aristide's return to Haiti. (Note: We do not have a reliable account of Preval's meeting with President Mbeki in Santiago. End Note) At home, Preval has stuck, when asked, to a constitutional formulation that Aristide is legally allowed to return, but has otherwise steered clear of the subject. While Aristide's militant supporters may still attempt to foment disorder on his behalf, we believe that the with the support of MINUSTAH the Preval government will have the means to control these elements and the vast majority of Haitian's now expect Preval himself to meet their expectations for improved living conditions and a new direction for Haiti. SANDERSON =======================CABLE ENDS============================