    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [October 20, 1993]
    [Pages 1782-1783]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Haiti
    October 20, 1993

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        I have directed the deployment of U.S. Naval Forces to participate
    in the implementation of the petroleum and arms embargo of Haiti. At
    11:59 p.m. E.S.T., October 18, units under the command of the Commander
    in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command, began enforcement operations in the
    waters around Haiti, including the territorial sea of that country,
    pursuant to my direction and consistent with United Nations Security
    Council Resolutions 841, 873, and 875. I am providing this report,
    consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to ensure that the Congress
    is kept fully informed about this important U.S. action to support
    multilateral efforts to restore democracy in Haiti and thereby promote
    democracy throughout the hemisphere.
        During the past week, the world has witnessed lawless, brutal
    actions by Haiti's military and police authorities to thwart the Haitian
    people's manifest desire for democracy to be returned to their country.
    With our full support, the United Nations Security Council has responded
    resolutely to these events. On October 16, the Security Council, acting
    under Chapters VII and VIII of the United Nations Charter, adopted
    Resolution 875. This resolution calls upon Member States, ``acting
    nationally or through regional agencies or arrangements, cooperating
    with the legitimate Government of Haiti, to use such measures
    commensurate with the specific circumstances as may be necessary'' to
    ensure strict implementation of sanctions imposed by Resolutions 841 and
    873. The maritime interception operations I have directed are conducted
    under U.S. command and control. In concert with allied navies, U.S.
    Naval Forces will ensure that merchant vessels proceeding to Haiti are
    in compliance with the embargo provisions set forth in the Security
    Council resolutions.
        The initial deployment includes six U.S. Navy ships and supporting
    elements under the command of the U.S. Atlantic Command. These U.S.
    forces and others as may be necessary, combined with those forces that
    other Member States have committed to this operation, will conduct
    intercept operations to ensure that merchant ships proceeding to Haiti
    are in compliance with United Nations Security Council sanctions. On the
    first day of the operation, one of our ships, with U.S. Navy and Coast
    Guard personnel aboard, carried out an interception of a Belize-flag
    vessel and allowed it to proceed to its destination after determining
    that it was in compliance with the embargo. In addition,

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    the forces of the U.S. Atlantic Command will remain prepared to protect
    U.S. citizens in Haiti and, acting in cooperation with U.S. Coast Guard,
    to support the Haitian Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO) of
    the United States, as may be necessary.
        The United States strongly supports the Governor's Island Agreement
    and restoration of democracy in Haiti. The measures I have taken to
    deploy U.S. Armed Forces in ``Operation Restore Democracy'' are
    consistent with United States goals and interests and constitute crucial
    support for the world community's strategy to overcome the persistent
    refusal of Haitian military and police authorities to fulfill their
    commitments under the Governor's Island Agreement. I have ordered the
    deployment of U.S. Armed Forces for these purposes pursuant to my
    constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations and as Commander
    in Chief and Chief Executive.
        Close cooperation between the President and the Congress is
    imperative for effective U.S. foreign policy and especially when the
    United States commits our Armed Forces abroad. I remain committed to
    consulting closely with Congress on our foreign policy, and I will
    continue to keep Congress fully informed about significant deployments
    of our Nation's Armed Forces.
        Sincerely,

                                                                Bill Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of
    the Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on October 21.