Weapons Sales to Haiti and U.S. Contacts With Aristide

Question: Is the United States considering lifting an embargo on arms sales to Haiti?

Answer: Restrictions on arms exports remain in place. We continue to look for ways to be helpful to Haiti, and will consider requests from the interim government pursuant to U.S. laws, regulations, and policies.

Question: Is the United States in touch with former president Aristide or any members of his entourage to ask for cooperation in getting his followers in Haiti to cease their destabilization efforts?

Answer: We have repeatedly called on members of the Lavalas Party to engage the Haitian interim government in accordance with democratic principles and the Haitian constitution, and to participate in the democratic process currently under way. The United States is not in contact with former president Aristide or his entourage, either directly or through intermediaries. However, in our public statements we have urged and will continue to urge him to cease encouraging his followers from committing acts of violence.

2004/1118