Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 28, 1993 TAG: 9308280095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS LENGTH: Medium
The suspension was effective immediately. Oil shipments were expected to begin arriving within a week in the fuel-starved nation, the poorest in the Americas. In Washington, the Organization of American States also suspended sanctions it imposed on Haiti nearly two years ago.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution saying, "The measures set out in . . . Resolution 841 are suspended with immediate effect." The sanctions include an oil embargo, a ban on all military purchases and freezing of foreign assets linked to the Haitian military.
The action came after Prime Minister-designate Robert Malval was ratified by the Haitian Parliament. Malval, the choice of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is to be sworn in Monday in Washington, where Aristide now lives.
Security Council President Madeleine K. Albright of the United States said in a speech Friday, "Sanctions alone could not solve Haiti's suffering. But we knew that imposing sanctions would send a clear and unequivocal message to those would extinguish the democratic flame and in so doing allow their own nation to collapse."
The decision to suspend sanctions was applauded in Haiti, which has been running on strategic reserves of diesel fuel for more than a week.
The council warned it could reimpose sanctions at any time if parties to the Haitian political settlement fail to keep their promises.
Under a pact signed by Aristide and army commander Gen. Raoul Cedras, the man who ousted him, Aristide is to be restored to power by Oct. 30, when sanctions will be formally terminated.
by CNB