Скачать или смотреть Caribbean leaders refuse to recognise new Haiti govt

(28 Mar 2004)

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1. Exterior of building with 15-nation Caribbean Community flags - Mute
2. Members arriving - Mute
3. Sign reading: "Fifteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community."
4. Various interiors of meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Manning, Trinidad Prime Minister:
"(Q: How do you refer to Mr Aristide, as former President?) Mr Aristide. (Q: Not former President?) No, he''s Mr Aristide isn''t he, that''s how we refer to him."
6. Various of meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Manning, Trinidad Prime Minister:
"(Q: Is the issue more to with recognising of the government of Haiti or not recognising, which one?) Well that issue is, well, we won''t determine that issue at this meeting. Please, it is sensitive and I want to be very careful what I say about it and I don''t want to have to deal with that issue because you can''t deal with it unless it is comprehensively handled. Just wait. "
8. Wide of news conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ralph Gonsalves, St. Vincent Prime Minister:
"I think one ought to add that this is not a call only made by Caricom, it is a call supported importantly by the African Union, supported by the ACP grouping of ambassadors, and other countries, a number of countries in Latin America. I think it should also be stated there are three possible avenues that we have been advised through the United Nations process, one is from the United Nations Secretary himself and another is through the General Assembly and a third is through the Security Council and it would be for the professionals to advise, and for the assessment to be made for the most efficacious path to be followed in that regard."
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Perry Christie, Prime Minister of Bahamas:
"With respect to what is first, that obviously will be ensuring the mechanisms we said we would create, are created. And second, that we continue towards a full and firm understanding of what is taking place in Haiti. It is important that Caricom be seen in the same light as the group in the region that initiated a plan of action towards restoring Haiti in every aspect of the statement you have just heard."
11. Various of meeting

STORYLINE:

Leaders of the 15-nation Caribbean Community have refused to recognise Haiti''s new US-backed government for the time being, expressing concern over the departure of ousted leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The move on Friday came a day after the leaders demanded the UN General Assembly investigate ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide''s claims he was abducted at gunpoint by US agents when he left on February 29 as rebels threatened to attack Haiti''s capital.

US officials say they organised the president''s departure at his own request and probably saved his life as rebels advanced toward the capital.

Several officials said leaders at a CARICOM summit in St. Kitts had been under enormous US pressure to recognise the new government.

Trinidad Prime Minister Patrick Manning said a final determination would be put off until leaders discuss the issue again at a summit in July in Grenada.

Trinidad plans to send 121 soldiers to join a UN humanitarian force in Haiti in about two months.

Other Caribbean countries are expected to follow.

Haiti was the last nation to join the Caribbean Community in 2002.

Aristide has been in temporary exile in Jamaica since March 15, despite protests from US and Haitian officials.



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