Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO65
2006-01-11 19:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL EXPRESSES

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNSC KDEM CI HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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).

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