SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL EXPRESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000065 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KDEM CI HA SUBJECT: SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT HAITI; GOC AGREES TO APPROACH IGOH ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT FOR "BABY DOC" REF: STATE 03121 Classified By: Ambassador Craig Kelly. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) Foreign Ministry Director General for External Relations Carlos Portales (the MFA's number three official) asked to see the Ambassador on January 10. Portales wanted to discuss Chilean concerns regarding Haiti in the aftermath of the June 7 death of the Brazilian military commander of MINUSTAH, and recent threats against MINUSTAH. Portales offered four observations of the current situation in Haiti: the election process is advancing; there are some Haitian groups who continue to oppose these advances; the different groups aligned with former President Aristide remain disorganized; and some groups in Haiti continue to threaten MINUSTAH and Special Representative of the UNSYG, Juan Gabriel Valdez. ¶2. (C) Portales said the GOC is particularly concerned about this last point: efforts being undertaken by certain groups in Haiti to threaten MINUSTAH and, in the process, disrupt the international community's efforts to prepare for peaceful elections. Portales said Chile believed it was important for the United Nations, the international community, and particularly the U.S. and Canada ("the two largest and most important countries involved in Haiti") to do what is necessary to ensure that Haiti is secure between now and the elections. Portales asked the U.S. to deny visas to certain Haitians, as leverage to discourage them from traveling back and forth to the U.S. (to garner support and perhaps funding) and thus disrupting the process on the ground in Haiti. The Ambassador said he would relay the message to Washington. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador expressed our concerns about the Interim Government of Haiti's (IGOH) decision to approve the issuance of a diplomatic passport for former president and dictator Jean-Claude " Baby Doc" Duvalier (reftel). The Ambassador asked the GOC to approach the IGOH to make clear that Duvalier's return would undermine efforts to assist Haiti in its transition to a stable, democratic society. Portales, who appeared surprised to learn of the IGOH's decision, agreed that such an action would pose a serious threat to stability in Haiti and disrupt final preparations for the elections. He said he would immediately contact Foreign Ministry Director for North American Affairs Ruiz-Tagle and ask him to express the GOC's concerns directly to the Haitian authorities. Ruiz-Tagle is currently in Haiti as part of a GOC delegation to meet with Haitian political leaders and to express Chile's commitment to maintaining a presence in Haiti. KELLY