VZCZCXRO3501
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1276 2071734
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261734Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6575
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 0392
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1599
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1418
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0859
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1268

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001276 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA OVIP
SUBJECT: HAITI/CANADA RELATIONS ENHANCED BY PM VISIT 
 
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1243 
 
¶1. (U)  This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please 
protect accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Summary:  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's 
July 20 visit to Haiti was hailed as a success by both 
Canadian and Haitian representatives.  President Preval 
solicited Canada's help in the struggle against drug 
trafficking, contraband and corruption, and Harper offered 
Canada's ongoing support.  The presence of Fanmi Lavalas 
activist "So Anne" did not dampen the friendly atmosphere of 
the encounter.  Harper also visited Cite Soleil as a 
testament to the improved security of the impoverished 
neighborhood.  Harper's other stops in Latin America and the 
Caribbean were successful as well, according to his 
delegation, and the entire visit played well in the Canadian 
press.  End summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  President Preval hosted a luncheon for Harper at 
the presidential palace where the president made multiple 
references to the close relationship between Canada and 
Haiti.  Harper stressed long-term commitment of his country 
to Haiti's development and reconstruction, telling luncheon 
guests, ''We are at your side.''  Preval asked for help 
fighting drug trafficking, contraband and corruption.  He 
also raised the issue of former president Jean Bertrand 
Aristide, telling Harper that Aristide's return would be 
dangerous for the country's budding democracy.  Preval and 
Harper had a 15 minute private meeting following the 
luncheon.  According to Canadian Ambassador Claude Boucher 
and James Fox, Assistant Deputy Minister for Bilateral 
Relations at Foreign Affairs Canada, the meeting went 
according to expectations with no surprises.  UN SRSG Edmond 
Mulet and Secretary General of the Presidency Fritz 
Longchamps also told the Ambassador that the visit was a 
success. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Fanmi Lavalas (FL) activist Annette ''So Anne'' 
Auguste attended the luncheon, along with fellow FL member 
(and Preval's former liaison to Cite Soleil gangs) Rene 
Momplaisir.  (Note: Auguste worked closely with Aristide and 
is a vocal proponent of his return to Haiti.  End note.) 
Longchamps told the Ambassador on July 23 that the palace 
invited Auguste as a display of their willingness to reach 
across party lines and reconcile with political opponents. 
The Canadians, however, made arrangements so that Harper 
never interacted with Auguste.  Palace staff kept her away 
from Preval to prevent photographers from associating him 
with Aristide collaborators. 
 
¶5. (U)  Harper also visited a Canadian-funded hospital in 
Cite Soleil.  According to Canadian Poloff, the Embassy 
wanted to demonstrate to Ottawa that Cite Soleil is now safe 
enough for official visits.  They feel they accomplished that 
goal as the visit was without incident.  Medical workers and 
Cite Soleil residents were delighted about the visit, 
according to Canadian Poloff. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Ambassador Fox told the Ambassador that the rest of 
the visit, primarily in South America, went very well.  The 
Canadian delegation was pleased by the reception at the PM's 
stops and delighted by the press coverage, particularly in 
Canada.  Although the Colombia stop was ''difficult,'' Fox 
said that Harper and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe got 
along very well, noting that this was the first visit to 
Bogota by a Canadian Head of Government since the mid-1950s. 
 
¶7. (U)  Comment:  Though he did not make any new bilateral 
commitments during the visit, the presence of PM Harper in 
Haiti signifies Canada's expanding role in the region.  As 
noted in reftel, however, the effects may be more notable in 
Canada than in Haiti, where Canadians and Haitians already 
acknowledge their burgeoning relationship. 
SANDERSON