Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409230060
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
But it took nearly two days before deposed-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide publicly reacted to the agreement for Haiti's military leaders to step down peacefully.
In a cryptic one-page release, typed on Haitian embassy stationery, Aristide on Tuesday made no reference to the diplomatic mission that ended Sunday with President Clinton's announcement that there would be no invasion.
There was no mention of the agreement signed by Haiti's de facto government to remove the military rulers by Oct. 15, the U.S. military mission in Haiti that could last for months or Aristide's return.
Instead, Aristide described in detached language other roads to democracy that Haitians already have taken. He mentioned the election in December 1990 that brought him to power. And he cited a previous United Nations agreement that sets peaceful terms for his return, the so-called Governors Island accord of 1993.
``We must build a state of law so that there will be neither violence nor vengeance in our nation,'' Aristide said. ``That is why today we must remain committed to the agreements that we have signed, notably the Governors Island Agreement.''
Aristide advisers and congressional allies say the exiled leader is bitter that Clinton did not follow through on his ultimatum to force the military rulers to flee Haiti. The Aristide government also wants the military and its paramilitary supporters to be disarmed.
The Haitian military leaders have agreed only to step down by next month, leaving the issue of exile an open question.
At the White House, Clinton ignored a question from a reporter about Aristide's statement.
Later, a senior administration official said that after Aristide has had time to ``resolve ... some of the details of this,'' he will support it.
by CNB