IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 149

Concerning United States support for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide upon

his return to Haiti as its President.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 22, 1993

Ms. MCKINNEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Concerning United States support for President JeanBertrand Aristide upon his return to Haiti as its President.

Whereas on December 16, 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was

elected President of Haiti in an election deemed free and

fair by the international community;

Whereas President Jean-Bertrand Aristide made great

strides toward liberalizing and developing Haiti’s economy, improving respect for human rights, and creating

conditions that sparked development of a vibrant civil society and that sharply diminished refugee outflows;

Whereas on September 30, 1991, a military-led coup overthrew President Aristide and engaged in a campaign of

systematic repression of leaders of civilian government

and civic groups that plunged Haiti into its worst human

rights nightmare to date;
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Whereas on July 3, 1993, President Aristide and Lieutenant

General Cedras mutually agreed upon the President’s return and the resignation of the coup leadership in United

Nations and Organization of American States brokered

talks on Governors Island in New York in which the

United States played an important facilitating role; and

Whereas the Governors Island Accord and related United Nations and Organization of American States resolutions

and actions commit the international community to take

an active role in human rights monitoring and economic

assistance to the civilian government, especially in the

months preceding President Aristide’s return: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the Congress remains concerned about on4 going human rights abuses and recent statements of

5 the coup regime that cast doubt on the regime’s in6 tention to honor its commitments under the Gov7 ernors Island Accord;

8 (2) Congress is concerned about the flagrant

9 human rights abuses in Haiti, including murder,

10 that have persisted since the signing of the Gov11 ernors Island Accord;

12 (3) Congress, consistent with the United Na13 tions Secretary General’s July 12, 1993 statement

14 that numerous human rights violations would justify

15 reimposition of sanctions and the International Civil-
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1 ian Mission’s recent findings that the numerous and

2 grave violations have not perceptibly lessened, be3 lieves it was inappropriate to suspend sanctions until

4 the military regime respects civil and political rights

5 and accepts the principle of civilian control;

6 (4) Congress supports the International Civilian

7 Mission’s prompt deployment at full strength and

8 calls on the Clinton Administration to include funds

9 to restore the social welfare infrastructure in antici10 pated assistance to Haiti;

11 (5) Congress applauds the Clinton Administra12 tion’s emergency assistance to the United Nations/

13 Organization of American States effort and ex14 presses its hope that such aid is directed through

15 President Aristide in support of programs developed

16 by the President; and

17 (6) United Nations and Organization of Amer18 ican States sanctions should be reinstated given the

19 existence of numerous human rights violations which

20 constitute noncompliance with the Governors Island

21 Accord and it is the sense of the Congress that no

22 United States aid should be provided for training or

23 technical assistance of Haitian military and police

24 unless it is done in accordance with plans estab-
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1 lished by the constitutional government in consulta2 tion with the international community.

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