Everything Haiti

The Stabilization Mission’s challenging mandate includes everything from ensuring a secure and stable environment to supporting constitutional processes, advancing national dialogue and reconciliation, promoting human rights and assisting the Haitian Government with free and fair elections. ... [Read More]

US Dept of State - Secretary Powell Calls HIV/AIDS Mankind's Greatest Threat

In April 5 remarks at the Gheskio clinic in Port-au-Prince Haiti, Powell said the Bush administration is doing everything it can to attack the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including working with the United Nations to create the Global Health Fund and crafting an emergency program that will allocate $15 billion to fight the disease worldwide over the next five years. ...

President Bush focused on this problem at the very beginning of his administration. And President Bush charged me and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, and all the other members of his cabinet, to do everything we could to expand our programs and to attack this pandemic. We had bilateral programs for many years, usually with USAID and a particular institution in the country. You have been the beneficiaries of our support for many years. But you are now also being supported by funds from the Global Health Fund that we worked with Secretary General Annan to create a few years ago. So all resources will be coming to you from the Global Health Fund. ... [Read More]

Haiti at the Crossroads of Democracy

For Aristide, it seemed that winning wasn’t everything…it was the only thing. It was this approach to politics that made him such a polarizing figure and drove so many people away from him. Even before the split in the Lavalas party, many allies and adversaries came to regard Aristide as ultimately self-interested and untrustworthy. ... [Read More]

Interview With Rothchild François of Radio Metropole and Voice of America

SECRETARY POWELL: Today is World AIDS Day and the United States has been working hard throughout the world to combat this terrible disease. President Bush has been in the forefront of this effort and has committed us to $15 billion dollars of funding for HIV/AIDS programs in the areas of education, anti-retroviral drugs, condoms, creating programs that focus on abstinence, but also on being faithful, proper use of condoms, and above all, don’t stigmatize those who have been hit by this disease. This is a disease and it can be treated. People should be respected, even if they do have HIV/AIDS, in fact, because of it they should be respected -- because they are fellow human beings. So on this World AIDS Day, I just want to let the people of Haiti know that the Untied States is committed and we will do everything we can to help Haiti deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS. We provided $20 million dollars in funding this year and will be providing $40 million dollars ne ... [Read More]

Press Conference With Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue

I am pleased with the efforts of the international community and the United Nations in assisting Haiti in such a troubled time. The United States made 46 million dollars available for disaster relief in addition to the 180 million dollars we pledged earlier for Haitian development. We understand that for democracy to succeed in Haiti, we also need to improve the economic opportunities for Haitians. We also understand that the people of Haiti are looking for security and opportunity. The United States and the international community will work closely with (inaudible) to restore the rule of law. The UN stabilization mission ably led by South American soldiers demonstrate that the international community’s strong commitment for restoration of order and democracy in Haiti. The political violence and corruption cannot be tolerated. To build a strong vibrant democracy and to advance the rule of law, we have got to get the other weapons off the street. Without security, Haiti’s democracy will ... [Read More]

US Dept of State - Powell, Haitian Prime Minister Discuss Haiti's Future

I gave the secretary of state an economic briefing on the state of affairs regarding the economy in Haiti. The country is in a state of total bankruptcy and totally destroyed. The state is totally demolished. The guys that were there before left the country with absolutely nothing. The situation left by those who were there before is absolutely total bleak. They left nothing behind. including the contents of the vaults of the Central Bank. They cleaned up everything as though they were an army running away. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Bush Administration Cites Progress in Iraq

McClellan discussed the Department of Homeland Security's mission on the 1st anniversary of its formation. "We must work to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect the American people here at home. That is why the Department of Homeland Security was created," he said. ...

"And so we have made significant progress in our efforts to secure the homeland. Our homeland security officials are working 24/7 to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect the American people. We will not rest. And this is our highest responsibility, the protection of the American people," the press secretary said. ... [Read More]

Press Conference Following CARICOM Meetings

MINISTER BOSTWICK: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I wish to welcome you to this short press conference on the conclusion of the third meeting between the United States Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community.  Two short commentaries will be made by the Secretary of State and the Chair of COFCOR, after which we will take questions.  As I said, the period is short, so please, keep your questions short and to the point.  Mr. Secretary, Mr. Insanally. [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, March 12

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know I'd quite put it that way. They've -- we've been talking about everything involving Haiti with the Jamaican Government throughout the period of this crisis, and this is one of the subjects that came up as it developed. ... [Read More]