[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 42 (Monday, October 25, 1993)]
[Pages 2125-2126]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 com- 

[[Page 2126]]

pliance with the embargo. In addition, 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.