HAITIAN DELEGATION PLEASED WITH WASHINGTON VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000959 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE NSC FOR FISK E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2012 TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: HAITIAN DELEGATION PLEASED WITH WASHINGTON VISIT Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Members of the delegation who accompanied President Preval and other Haitian officials informed Emboffs that Preval was very pleased with the reception he received from President Bush, Secretary Rice, other USG officials and members of Congress. Presidential counselor Gabriel Verret claimed in a conversation with Polcouns that Preval was neither surprised nor taken aback by President Bush's concerns regarding Haitian-Venezuelan relations. Verret related that when the White House regretfully asked the Haitian delegation to change the time of the meeting with President Bush on short notice, President Preval instructed him to accommodate the White House, saying the most important goal of the trip was to see President Bush and make him understand where he (Preval) stood on Venezuela. Verret said they joked afterward that they should have been prepared to explain their Venezuela policy with a Haitian proverb, "The bigger imbecile than the one who gives is the one who doesn't take." ¶2. (C) In a separate conversation with Polcouns, unofficial presidential advisor and veteran Hill lobbyist Leonel Delatour downplayed the friction reportedly caused by the issue of granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians illegally in the U.S. between President Preval and some members of Congress. The leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, he said, respected President Preval's position not to raise TPS with President Bush. When asked why President Preval would even consider advocating for an issue at odds with his campaign to promote a return of people and investment to Haiti, Delatour replied that as a small, poor country, Haiti could not afford to alienate any friends on the Hill, especially those who had been instrumental in passing HOPE legislation. ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Clerisme and Prime Minster Alexis (neither of whom accompanied Preval) also expressed the GoH's overall satisfaction with the Washington visit in meetings with the Ambassador. Clerisme took pains to excuse his absence, noting the importance of the CARICOM heads of state preparatory meeting President Preval had asked him to attend. The PM said that the President was particularly pleased with prospects for continued cooperation in taking advantage of the HOPE legislation and further counter-narcotics legislation. (Note. Nonetheless, Prevals' intimates expressed to Ambassador anger at how hard some CBC members pressed the President on TPS. One member of the CBC walked out of the meeting with Preval, a breech of protocol that upset Preval's colleagues. End note.) ¶4. (C) Comment. Preval's visit appears to have underlined for the delegation the importance of the Haiti-U.S. partnership and their need to cultivate Washington decision-makers. Post is confident that the trip established the groundwork for closer consultations with the GoH on issues such as drugs and anti-corruption cooperation. Of some concern, however, is Preval's continued blase attitude toward staffing. Among those accompanying Preval, economic advisor/fiance Elizabeth Delatour appears firmly established as his closest confidante and factotum, but appears to play little role in promoting or implementing policy, and is thus of limited utility as a contact in promoting the bilateral agenda. On the positive side, Gabriel Verret remains a reliable and valuable interlocutor. Preval continues to rely on Leonel Delatour in dealing with the Hill, but otherwise appears to keep him at arms-length on policy, resulting in Preval's inconsistent and contradictory stand on TPS with the Hill and the White House. We hope that President Bush's clear message on Venezuela sank in, but only time will tell. Preval answers only to himself on Venezuela policy, and he may not be able to resist displaying some show of independence or contrariness in dealing with Chavez in the future. SANDERSON =======================CABLE ENDS============================