VZCZCXRO6075
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1386/01 2121707
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311707Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3653
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1150
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0992
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0531
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0952

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001386 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EAID HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: PM ASKS WHA A/S FOR HELP ON SECURITY, 
DEPORTEES AND HOPE 
 
REF: A. PAP 1303 
     ¶B. PAP 1360 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
 ¶1.  (C) Summary: Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis told 
Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon July 25 that the Donors' 
Conference was a success and proves Haiti is ready to assert 
its leadership and take back nation-building responsibilities 
from the international community.  Alexis said the government 
plans to take action on the security situation in 
Port-au-Prince.  He sought additional help from MINUSTAH to 
solve the recurring violence and asked Shannon if the U.S. 
would be willing to discuss possible procedures to enable 
criminal deportees to take part in a social reinsertion 
program once they return to Haiti.  Alexis discussed HOPE 
with Shannon, highlighting its potential to create needed job 
opportunities.   Per usual, Alexis offered an organized 
agenda and clear vision, though he lacked specifics, for the 
USG role in Haiti's development.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis told Assistant 
Secretary Thomas Shannon and Ambassador Janet Sanderson July 
 
SIPDIS 
25 that the Donors' Conference was a success.  It proves 
Haiti is ready to assert its leadership and take back 
nation-building responsibilities from the international 
community.  Alexis said the new Haitian government is 
committed to creating a secure environment in which people 
can move freely and businesses can operate without fear of 
instability and lack of security.  He said the GOH still 
needs the partnership of the U.S. and other international 
donors. 
 
PM Asserts Vague Leadership on Security 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶3.  (C) Alexis said the government plans to take action on 
the security situation in Port-au-Prince.  He cited the 
appointment of two Secretaries of State, one for Justice and 
one for Public Security (ref A).  He disagreed with criticism 
of his government for not publicly addressing the security 
situation.  "This is not the time to talk about the security 
situation; this is a time for action."  (Note: In the weeks 
leading up the Donors, Conference, the GOH did  not publicly 
address the worsening security situation, and twice postponed 
the press conference announcing the Donors' Conference, 
possibly to avoid questions about security.  During the 
Conference, statements by both President Rene Preval and 
Alexis focused on security in Port-au-Prince.  End note.) 
 
¶4.  (C) Alexis said that the GOH needs to find solutions to 
stem the rise in violence.  To this end, the GOH is working 
with MINUSTAH and other international partners.  He suggested 
that MINUSTAH would benefit from additional specialized 
forces capable of addressing urban violence.  The Prime 
Minister said the violence is not politically motivated, but 
originates primarily from poverty, misery and the drug trade. 
 Alexis asked the U.S. to provide technical assistance to 
MINUSTAH and to assist with capacity building in Haiti.  He 
asked that donors address the problem of poverty outlined in 
the GOH's Social Appeasement Program (PAS).  Alexis also 
promised, but did not offer specific explanations, that 
Preval and he would focus on the security situation beginning 
the day after the Donors' Conference.  Shannon offered 
continued U.S. support.  He said that the criminals were 
threatening a democratic government, and Haiti's economic and 
social development.  He urged Alexis to work with all sectors 
of society to address the security situation and assured him 
that the U.S. would continue to work closely with MINUSTAH. 
 
Procedures for Criminal Deportees Need Review 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5.  (C) Alexis asked Shannon and the Ambassador to review the 
situation of criminal deportees, 120 of whom were scheduled 
to arrive in Haiti next week.  (Note:  Per ref B, following a 
 
PORT AU PR 00001386  002 OF 002 
 
 
July 26 meeting at the Ministry of the Interior, Poloff 
reports 50 deportees will arrive July 31.  End note.)  The 
Ambassador reminded Alexis that there is a backlog of 
Haitians to be returned.  While Alexis did not endorse their 
return, neither did he raise objections for the group 
scheduled for repatriation within the week, despite ample 
opportunity to do so during the meeting. 
 
¶6.  (C) Alexis asked the USG to reconsider procedures for 
criminal deportees.  He said he understands that the U.S. 
cannot keep prisoners who have already served their time. 
However, he suggested that while respecting both American and 
Haitian law, the prisoners could be returned to Haiti before 
they have served their entire sentence so that they can 
finish their sentence in Haiti and then be reinserted into 
society.  Shannon agreed to further discussions about the 
precise procedure for criminal deportees but stressed the 
program needed to continue on schedule. 
 
HOPE Offers Crucial Jobs 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶7.  (U) Alexis asked for assistance with HOPE, important for 
job creation in Haiti.  He underscored that the lack of jobs 
only adds to criminality.  Shannon told Alexis that trade 
legislation remains politically sensitive in the U.S. 
Congress, though recent passage of the Free Trade Agreement 
with 
Oman was an important step in the right direction. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  Alexis appeared organized and presented 
his ideas succinctly.  He had an agenda, almost a wish list, 
for Haiti's near future.  In contrast to the long-term vision 
of President Preval, Alexis is more focused on finding 
practical solutions to Haiti's immediate problems, even if 
those plans lack specific details.  End comment. 
 
¶9.  (U)  A/S Shannon cleared on this message. 
SANDERSON