PREVAL SUCCESSFULLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF HAITI

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000854 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 JEFFREY LEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: PREVAL SUCCESSFULLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF HAITI ¶1. (U). President Preval took the oath of office before the Haitian parliament and Haitian and international dignitaries on May 14. The ceremonies also included a mass celebrated at Port-au-Prince's Catholic cathedral and concluded with President Preval's address to the nation at the presidential palace. The ceremonies proceeded without incident at all three inauguration sites, with Preval supporters massing peacefully at each event. The crowd at the presidential palace, however, swarmed past barriers and UN police units and lined the fence surrounding the grounds. President Preval's short address (roughly 10 minutes) in Creole called on Haitians to work together to create social peace, stressing that Haiti had the means to solve its own problems and eliminate the need for foreign troops in the country. Preval insisted, however, that MINUSTAH must remain in Haiti for now. The Haitian media reacted positively to Preval's remarks, though they criticized the logistical disorganization that marked the ceremonies at the parliament and the palace. Post will support septel on an incident caused by prisoners at the national penitentiary during the morning. UN police forces responded to the scene and brought the prison under control by roughly 1030: the inauguration ceremony at the parliament began at roughly 1145. ¶2. (U) Governor of Florida Jeb Bush led the U.S. delegation that included the Ambassador and Florida State Secretary for Health and Haitian native Dr. Roney Francois. Governor Bush attended each ceremony and departed at the conclusion of President Preval's speech at the national palace. Post will report septel on Governor Bush's private meeting with President Preval at the presidential residence prior to the inauguration. SANDERSON