PREVAL TAKES ANTI-GLOBALIZATION STANCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000753

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PAS AID FOR LAC/CAR
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON KTRD HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL TAKES ANTI-GLOBALIZATION STANCE



1. (SBU) Summary: President Preval used his speech on
Haiti's Flag Day May 18 to depict Haiti's economic reform
efforts as a national struggle for economic independence
against the forces of globalization. He summoned all
Haitians to unite and support a ''unity government'' to
achieve this independence, just as their ancestors two
centuries ago had united to throw off slavery. This was the
first time, at least recently, that Preval cast his country's
economic efforts in such starkly nationalist,
anti-globalization terms. Post doubts this new political
tack heralds a confrontational stance with international
financial institutions, a departure from Haiti's policies of
macroeconomic stabilization, or a xenophobic turn in Preval's
outlook. The President used the anti-globalization theme not
to flay foreigners but to rally Haitians to unite and
sacrifice as the country struggles to get back on its feet
economically and politically. End summary.


2. (U) In his May 18 speech at the National Palace,
President Preval said that, in contrast to Flag Day a year
ago, a ''political cloud'' hung over the ceremony this year.
Referring to the recent fall of the government, he thanked
outgoing Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis for his role
in achieving the stability Haiti had enjoyed over the
previous two years. He thanked former Prime
Minister-designate Ericq Pierre for sacrificing his previous
job and returning to Haiti to serve his country.


3. (U) Preval then depicted Haiti's efforts to stimulate
domestic agricultural production -- which political discourse
in Haiti now universally refers to as ''national production''
-- as a new version of Haiti's struggle for independence two
centuries ago. He said that Haiti now is engaged in a
''war'' to revive domestic production, and to build roads,
hospitals and schools. Noting that food inflation had hit
Haiti due to changes in world markets, Preval directly linked
the high cost of living in Haiti to globalization in general.
Preval declared that for Haiti, globalization meant
dependency. The country's battle against the high cost of
living was a battle for ''national production'' and economic
independence. ''Our ancestors'' had taken up arms to throw
off the dependency of colonialism and slavery, and had made
every necessary sacrifice to achieve independence. Haiti's
effort to achieve economic independence today was the same
kind of battle.


4. (U) Preval concluded by highlighting his signature theme
of stability as the pre-condition for Haiti's development.
He asked Haitians to unite in the battle for ''national
production,'' and summoned all ''political partners'' to help
him build a ''government of unity.''


5. ( SBU) Comment: The President's heavily nationalist,
anti-globalization theme was a new turn in his political
rhetoric, but so far it is just rhetoric. He used the harsh
effects of rising global food commodity prices not to
demonize foreign economic influence but to urge Haitians to
unite politically and put themselves to the task of reviving
the domestic economy. Nevertheless, the anti-globalization
message will be a theme to watch.
TIGHE