HAITI DEMARCHE ON U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000277 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, DIANNE GRAHAM AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS WHA PASS TO STATE/ISN, STATE/PM, DTRA AND ATF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HA KCRM SNAR SUBJECT: HAITI DEMARCHE ON U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN ARMS IN THE AMERICAS REF: A. SECSTATE 8063 ¶B. 08 PORT AU PRINCE 542 ¶1. Ambassador delivered demarche per ref A to Minister of Justice on February 17 regarding opportunities for the Government of Haiti in USG programs to address illicit arms trafficking, including law enforcement training through International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAS). The Minister of Justice welcomed the opportunity and said he would consider future participation. ¶2. Post underscores, however, that the following assistance programs do not apply to Haiti: STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION. The GOH does not stockpile weapons and does not maintain a surplus of weapons. Stockpile destruction, therefore, does not pertain to the GOH. PHYSICAL SECURITY AND STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT. The GOH does not stockpile weapons, and does not employ stockpile managers. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency program does not apply to Haiti. TRACING REQUESTS. Per discussion March 2008 with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officer regarding eTRACE MOU (see ref B),Haiti currently lacks the technical and infrastructural capacity to use and maintain the eTRACE program. EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY ASSISTANCE. The GOH does not manufacture weapons, nor does it export them. Export control programs do not apply to Haiti. END-USER CHECKS. Haitian citizens are not permitted to purchase weapons via commercial channels from the U.S. A limited number of licensed weapons are permitted for purchase by government officials. These requests are vetted and authorized through the Secretary of State for Public Security, the Director General of the Haitian National Police, the U.S. Embassy and Department of State. REGISTRATION OR IMPORTATION OF FIREARMS INTO THE UNITED STATES. The U.S. does not import weapons from Haiti. This assistance program does not apply to Haiti. SANDERSON