[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 22 (Monday, June 7, 1993)]
[Pages 1029-1030]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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. 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

[[Page 1030]]

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.