    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [June 4, 1993]
    [Pages 810-811]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Sanctions Against Haiti
    June 4, 1993

        One of the cornerstones of our foreign policy is to support the
    global march toward democracy and to stand by the world's new
    democracies. The promotion of democracy, which not only reflects our
    values but also increases our security, is especially important in our
    own hemisphere. As part of that goal, I consider it a high priority to
    return democracy to Haiti and to return its democratically elected
    President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to his office.
        We should recall Haiti's strides toward democracy just a few years
    back. Seven years ago, tired of the exploitative rule that had left them
    the poorest nation in our hemisphere, the Haitian people rose up and
    forced the dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier to flee. In December 1990, in a
    remarkable exercise of democracy, the Haitian people held a free and
    fair election, and two-thirds of them voted for President Aristide.
        Nineteen months ago, however, that progress toward democracy was
    thwarted when the Haitian military illegally and violently ousted
    President Aristide from office. Since taking office in January, the
    United States Government has worked steadily with the international
    community in an effort to restore President Aristide and democracy to
    Haiti. The OAS and United Nations Special Envoy, Dante Caputo, has
    demonstrated great dedication and tenacity. To support Mr. Caputo's
    effort, Secretary of State Christopher in March named U.S. Ambassador
    Lawrence Pezzullo as our Special Adviser for Haiti.
        We and the international community have made progress. The presence
    of the International Civilian Mission has made a concrete contribution
    to human rights in Haiti. Mr. Caputo's consultations with all the
    parties indicated that a negotiated solution is possible.
        Unfortunately, the parties in Haiti have not been willing to make
    the decisions or take the steps necessary to begin democracy's
    restoration.

    [[Page 811]]

    And while they seek to shift responsibility, Haiti's people continue to
    suffer.
        In light of their own failure to act constructively, I have
    determined that the time has come to increase the pressure on the
    Haitian military, the de facto regime in Haiti and their supporters.
        The United States has been at the forefront of the international
    community's efforts to back up the U.N./OAS negotiations with sanctions
    and other measures. Beginning in October 1991, we froze all Haitian
    Government assets in the United States and prohibited unlicensed
    financial transactions with Haitian persons. Today, I am acting to
    strengthen those existing provisions in several ways.
        First, I have signed a proclamation pursuant to Section 212(f) of
    the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibiting the entry into the U.S.
    of Haitian nationals who impede the progress of negotiations designed to
    restore constitutional government to Haiti and of the immediate
    relatives of such persons. The Secretary of State will determine the
    persons whose actions are impeding a solution to the Haitian crisis.
    These people will be barred from entering the United States.
        Second, pursuant to the authority of the International Emergency
    Economic Powers Act and the Executive orders on the Haiti emergency, I
    have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to designate as ``specially
    designated nationals'' those Haitians who act for or on behalf of the
    junta, or who make material, financial, or commercial contributions to
    the de facto regime or the Haitian armed forces. In effect, this measure
    will freeze the personal assets of such persons subject to U.S.
    jurisdiction and bar them from conducting any transactions whatsoever
    with the individuals and entities named.
        Third, I have directed Secretary Christopher to consult with the OAS
    and its member states on ways to enhance enforcement of the existing OAS
    sanctions program. And I have directed Secretary Christopher and
    Ambassador Albright to consult with the U.N. and member states on the
    possibility of creating a worldwide sanctions program against Haiti.
        Sanctions alone do not constitute a solution. The surest path toward
    the restoration of democracy in Haiti is a negotiated solution that
    assures the safety of all parties. We will therefore strongly support a
    continuation and intensification of the negotiating effort. We will
    impress on all parties the need to take seriously their own
    responsibilities for a successful resolution to this impasse.
        Our policy on Haiti is not a policy for Haiti alone. It is a policy
    in favor of democracy everywhere. Those who seek to derail a return to
    constitutional government, whether in Haiti or Guatemala, must recognize
    that we will not be swayed from our purpose.
        At the same time, individuals should not have to fear that
    supporting democracy's restoration will ultimately put their own safety
    at risk. Those who have opposed President Aristide in the past should
    recognize that, once President Aristide has returned, we and the rest of
    the international community will defend assiduously their legitimate
    political rights.
        It is my hope that the measures we have announced today will
    encourage greater effort and flexibility in the negotiations to restore
    democracy and President Aristide to Haiti.

    Note: The proclamation of June 3 barring the entry of certain Haitian
    nationals into the United States is listed in Appendix D at the end of
    this volume.