    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 16, 1994]
    [Pages 1782-1783]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Return of the United States Delegation to Haiti
    October 16, 1994

        Good afternoon. Secretary Christopher, Mr. Gray, distinguished
    members of Congress, and members of the delegation who went to Haiti.
    Let me welcome you back to the United States from your historic trip. We
    are here today to continue this remarkable celebration of freedom over
    fear that all of you witnessed yesterday in Port-au-Prince and here to
    look ahead to the hard work the people of Haiti now have to do in order
    to rebuild their nation.
        But first let me say a few words about the situation this morning in
    the Persian Gulf. I was pleased that the United Nations Security Council
    yesterday passed a very strong resolution and unanimously condemned the
    recent provocative actions by Iraq near its border with Kuwait. The
    Security Council resolution makes clear that the international community
    will not allow Iraq to threaten its neighbors or to intimidate the
    United Nations as it ensures that Iraq does not again possess weapons of
    mass destruction.
        The message is clear: Iraq must complete its withdrawal. It must not
    threaten its neighbors in the future. It must comply with all relevant
    Security Council resolutions. The troops, ships, and attack aircraft I
    have ordered to the Gulf area will continue to remain there until the
    crisis passes.
        As our troops in the Gulf are helping to enforce the will of the
    international community, our young men and women in uniform in Haiti are
    doing so as well. And as all of you saw yesterday, they're doing so in a
    brilliant fashion. When we sent our armed forces to Haiti just 4 weeks
    ago, their mission was to pave the way for President Aristide's return.
    Yesterday that mission was completed, as the President returned home in
    joyous atmosphere that we all watched so happily from here. Now Haiti is
    a nation where violence is down and the Parliament is back, a nation
    where men and women freely chosen by the Haitian people are once again
    leading their country, where a long night of fear is giving way to a new
    day of promise.
        A few moments ago, I was briefed by Secretary Christopher and Bill
    Gray on yesterday's events. I asked a lot of questions about what
    happened and what would happen in the future. But let me just say,
    yesterday I was moved--as I know all of you were, even more moved being
    there on the ground--by the incredible

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    sight of President Aristide addressing the people from the Presidential
    Palace and saying again and again, ``No to violence, no to retribution,
    yes to peace, yes to reconciliation.''
        We know there is a long road ahead, that dangers still remain. Now
    that the democratic government has been restored, it must be nourished,
    and the country must be rebuilt. Many nations around the world are
    already pledging to do their part, starting with a $550 million
    reconstruction and recovery fund to provide humanitarian relief,
    development assistance, and support for democratic institutions. The
    United States will work with these countries, with the international
    financial institutions, with private organizations, all together, over
    the next several months to make sure this work succeeds.
        In the end, of course, only the people of Haiti can rebuild their
    country. They have waited a long time for the chance to do so. Now,
    thanks to the efforts of the men and women of our Armed Forces, those of
    our coalition partners, and the supporters of freedom, they are being
    given the chance to do it.
        Several of you have commented on the freshly painted signs you
    noticed in Port-au-Prince. I understand that the most popular one had
    three words: ``Thank you, America.'' So let me conclude by saying a few
    thank-yous. Thank you to all of you who worked so long and hard to help
    to put Haiti back on the track to democracy. As he ends his mission, let
    me say a special word of thanks to Bill Gray, who at a critical time
    brought energy, focus, credibility, and great skill to this task. Thank
    you, sir. Thank you to the men and women of our Armed Forces and their
    families, from General Shelton to every last enlisted man and woman who
    are there. All of them are the power behind our diplomacy. Thank you to
    the nations from our hemisphere who have worked with us and those beyond
    our hemisphere who have worked with us on this project. Thank you to the
    people of our country who time and again have been willing to stand up
    for others because it is the right thing to do. And finally, thank you
    to President Aristide and the freedom-loving people of Haiti who never
    gave in to despair and who today stand in the warm, bright sunshine of
    freedom. Thank you all.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. at the North Portico of the West
    Wing at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Special Adviser
    on Haiti William H. Gray III.