HAITIAN PERMREP PLEDGES HAITI WILL NOT PROVOKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000748

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO CH TW HA
SUBJECT: HAITIAN PERMREP PLEDGES HAITI WILL NOT PROVOKE
CHINA OVER TAIWAN AT UN

REF: USUN 741

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Jeff DeLaurentis, per 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (C) During a meeting on September 10, Haitian PermRep Leo
Merores told Poloff he did not expect China to object to a
one-year extension of the mandate of the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) when it expires on October 15,

2007. (Note: China threatened to veto MINUSTAH's mandate in
February 2007 after Merores defended Taiwan's application for
membership during a meeting of the UN's General Committee in
September 2006. The PRC ultimately agreed to support an
8.5-month extension, vice the twelve months recommended by
the SYG, after Haiti sent Beijing a letter of regret. End
Note.) Asserting that Haitian officials had "behaved" over
the past several months vis-a-vis the China-Taiwan issue,
Merores said Haiti had committed to supporting UNGA
resolution 2758 (1971) regarding the issue of Chinese
representation in the UN in its letter of regret to Beijing,
and that Haiti would therefore "abstain" on any action in the
UN that could undermine its position. As a case in point,
Merores noted, Haiti had absented itself from a recent
informal discussion in the UNGA General Committee over
Taiwan's application for membership (reftel). Although the
GOH is in a "difficult" position due to Taiwan's significant
aid to Haiti, Merores emphasized that Haiti would honor its
commitments to China, and added that he had recently given
the Chinese DPR assurances to this effect.


2. (C) Turning to the details of MINUSTAH's mandate, Merores
said Haiti strongly supported most of the recommendations in
the SYG's recent report on Haiti -- a one-year extension of
the mandate, minor adjustments to force levels, and provision
of up to sixteen small patrol boats to MINUSTAH to help it
guard Haiti's coastline and secure its ports. He lamented
that one item which was not mentioned was the need for
MINUSTAH to focus more on "civil" and "reconstruction"
projects -- especially in places which have been secure for
some time. According to Merores, President Preval told SYG
Ban Ki-Moon directly on August 1 that MINUSTAH needed to "use
more bulldozers and fewer tanks." Merores said he understood
that SRSG Mulet had opposed Preval's request on the grounds
that MINUSTAH and the HNP had to consolidate their recent
gains in security and not be distracted by engaging in
development projects. Poloff noted that the U.S. also
believed that MINUSTAH should focus primarily on its mission
to ensure a secure and stable environment in Haiti. To this
end, Poloff informed Merores that the U.S. would host a
"Haiti Key Players" meeting on the margins of the UNGA, date
and time TBD. Merores noted that Preval would be in New York
from September 24-30 and would plan to attend the
U.S.-sponsored meeting if possible.
KHALILZAD