VZCZCXRO6941
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1392/01 2131135
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 011135Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3665
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1156
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0998
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0301
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0956

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2016 
TAGS: HA KPKO PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: WHA A/S SHANNON'S JULY 25 VISIT TO HAITI - OVERVIEW 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reason 1.4 (b/d). 
 
¶1.  (U)  WHA A/S Thomas Shannon led the U.S. Delegation to 
the July 25 Haiti Donors' Conference, at which the USG 
pledged $210 million for the coming 12 months -- the largest 
amount from any donor.  During his one-day visit, A/S Shannon 
held bilaterals with President Preval, Prime Minister Alexis, 
MINUSTAH SRSG Mulet, Canadian CIDA President Greenhill, and 
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yamanaka.  This message offers 
highlights of the visit.  Septels provide detailed read-outs 
of the pledging conference and key bilateral meetings. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Shannon's Message:  Throughout his visit, Shannon 
emphasized that the USG is committed to the success of the 
democratically elected government in Haiti and to a continued 
role for MINUSTAH in stabilizing the country.  He stressed 
that improved security is a pre-requisite for investment andQevelopment.  He encouraged the GOH to enlist the support of 
other segments of society in a strategy to combat insecurity. 
 
 
¶3.  (C)  President Preval:  Preval offered assurances that he 
was dealing with the problem of insecurity, and floated the 
idea of holding a national conference on security, 
contraband, and corruption.  He devoted most of his meeting 
with A/S Shannon to a request for USG assistance in road 
building and, to a lesser extent, counternarcotics.  Preval 
appeared to have an overly optimistic assessment of prospects 
for passage of HOPE legislation.  Shannon cautioned him to 
consider the political sensitivities of trade legislation in 
the U.S. Congress.  Asked about Haiti's position on the 
GRULAC seat in the UNSC, Preval maintained that there is a 
CARICOM consensus to support Venezuela.  Shannon indicated 
that we had a different understanding of CARICOM's position, 
which had laid out criteria for supporting a GRULAC candidate 
but had not identified a favored candidate.  He reviewed he 
many reasons Guatemala is the stronger candidate and urged 
Preval to rethink his position. 
 
¶4.  (C) PM Alexis:  Alexis said that the government is 
determined to manage the security situation, and would 
welcome additional specialized military capabilities for 
MINUSTAH.  The Prime Minister also urged passage of HOPE 
legislation as part of a broader package of economic measures 
that would provide jobs to Haitian youth and dissuade them 
from joining gangs.  Alexis raised GOH concerns over 
resumption of deportation of Haitian criminals who have 
completed their sentences in the U.S.  He proposed that the 
USG and GOH work on a comprehensive program to provide for 
social reintegration of these criminals upon their return to 
Haiti. 
 
¶5.  (C)  SRSG Mulet:  Mulet discussed MINUSTAH's challenges 
operating in Haiti, which lacks a functional state -- 
especially outside Port-au-Prince.  He warned that Aristide 
poses a growing threat as a potential spoiler, perhaps in 
collaboration with other forces that seek to destabilize the 
government.  Preval, whom Mulet sees almost daily, is 
concerned about security but lacks a coherent vision for 
how to respond.  Mulet urged renewal of MINUSTAH's mandate 
for a full year, in part to lock in commitments from wavering 
troop contributors.  If MINUSTAH does not succeed in working 
with the GOH to stabilize Haiti, he said, then the 
international community will have to return again when the 
task will be even more difficult and expensive.  Shannon 
assured Mulet of strong USG support for MINUSTAH. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  CIDA President Greenhill:  Canadian International 
Development Agency President Robert Greenhill asserted that 
Haiti had the best opportunity in 20 years to make progress. 
He was pleased with the high-level presence at the donors' 
conference, despite competing international demands (e.g., 
the Middle East).  Greenhill worried that expectations for 
rapid improvement in Haiti may be too high.  The GOH has 
oversold to its citizens what can be accomplished in the 
short term.  The country faces a difficult 12 - 18 months as 
it comes to grips with gangs, an inexperienced new 
parliament, and other challenges.  As part of a long-term 
approach, CIDA has locked in a commitment of 100 million 
Canadian dollars (about USD 90 million) in aid to Haiti in 
each of the next five years.  This will make Haiti Canada's 
second largest foreign aid recipient, after Afghanistan.  The 
Canadians favor renewal of MINUSTAH's mandate for a full 
year, and plan to continue their support to the UN Police. 
Greenhill and Shannon agreed that it is critical to improve 
the security environment in order for 
 
PORT AU PR 00001392  002 OF 002 
 
 
development aid to be effective and for investment to return 
to Haiti. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yamanaka:  Vice 
Minister Akiko Yamanaka said that Japan believes Haiti is 
important not only in and of itself but also because of its 
potential effects (e.g., refugee and migrant flows) elsewhere 
in the region.  Japan's assistance focuses on "human 
security" through technical cooperation in the fields of 
agriculture, environment, traffic systems, and police. 
Agreeing with Shannon on the key role of MINUSTAH, Yamanaka 
asked about prospects for renewing and strengthening 
MINUSTAH's mandate.  In particular, she expressed concern 
that PRC irritation at Haiti's and Preval's relationship with 
Taiwan could limit PRC support for mandate renewal.  Shannon 
underscored U.S. support for MINUSTAH, and noted that, while 
the PRC is irritated by GOH recognition of Taiwan, he hoped 
that the Chinese would not be so short-sighted as to use 
their UNSC vote to block renewal of MINUSTAH's mandate. 
Shannon said the U.S. would reach out to the PRC in advance 
of MINUSTAH's mandate renewal to manage their concerns. 
 
¶8. (U)  Press Conference:  Prior to departing Port-au-Prince, 
Shannon gave a brief press conference. 
With its pledge at the July 25 Donors' Conference, the USG 
remains Haiti's largest donor.  Moreover, in the period since 
the last Donors' Conference, USG disbursements were more than 
50 percent higher than the amount originally pledged.  He 
emphasized that, with an elected government now in place, 
this is the time to work with Haiti's democratic institutions 
to tackle common challenges, including security and economic 
development. 
 
¶9.  (C)  Comment:  This short visit underscored USG support 
for the democratically elected government and for MINUSTAH. 
The bilaterals with Preval and Alexis afforded an opportunity 
to push them to act more forcefully and publicly on security 
issues.  Our contacts with the Canadians and Japanese showed 
general consensus that this is a moment of opportunity for 
Haiti, but one fraught with challenges that will require 
continued international support and engagement.  Shannon's 
visit attracted positive press play, focused on the 
significant USG aid package for Haiti.  End comment. 
 
¶10.  (U) A/S Shannon has cleared this message. 
SANDERSON