[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 41 (Monday, October 17, 1994)]
[Pages 2024-2025]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Restoration of Haitian Democracy

October 14, 1994

    President Aristide; distinguished Haitian guests; to the 
distinguished Members of Congress who are here, Senator Dodd, 
Congressman Rangel, Congressman Conyers, Congressman Oberstar, 
Congressman Combest; to the members of the United States military and 
their families who are here; to the friends of Haiti and the process of 
peace and reconciliation:
    Three years ago, the international community, led by the United 
States, set out to restore Haiti's democratically elected government. 
Today, on the eve of President Aristide's return to his beloved nation, 
we mark the end of one stage of the long and difficult journey and the 
beginning of a new era of hope for the people of Haiti.
    Halfway around the world, America's armed forces are also bringing a 
message of hope and confidence to the people of Kuwait. Our troops have 
responded rapidly to the threat from Iraq, and I have ordered that the 
deployment of personnel and equipment to the area continue. Let there be 
no mistake: The United States will not allow Iraq to threaten its 
neighbors.
    In Haiti, the men and women of our Armed Forces have protected our 
national interests and advanced the democratic values we Americans hold 
so dear. We've helped to curb the violence that threatened tens of 
thousands of Haitians, to secure our own borders, to bring 
democratically elected government to the 34th of our hemisphere's 35 
nations, to uphold the reliability of our own commitments and the 
commitments others make to us. In so doing, we have helped to give the 
people of Haiti a chance to remake the democracy they earned, they 
deserve, and they so plainly wish. President Aristide's return to Haiti 
is a victory for freedom throughout the world.
    More than 3 years have passed since a bloody coup stole the Haitian 
people's first elected government. But the road back to democracy, as we 
all know, has been strewn with obstacles and dangers. Despite exhaustive 
efforts, diplomatic condemnation, economic sanctions, United Nations 
resolutions, the brutality of the military regime and its hired guns 
increased day by day. Haiti sank deeper into poverty and chaos. Only the 
combination of the imminent American-led invasion and the skillful 
diplomacy by President Carter, General Powell, and Senator Nunn brought 
this terrible chapter in Haitian history to a close. General Powell is 
here today, and on behalf of the American people, sir, I thank you for 
your mission and for what you did. Thank you.
    Just one month later, today, the generals have stepped down from 
power and left Haiti. The Haitian people have begun to move from fear to 
freedom. American troops and those of our coalition partners are 
restoring basic security and civil order. They have helped more than 
3,700 refugees to go home from Guantanamo. The Haitian Parliament has 
once again opened its doors. The mayor of Port-au-Prince is back in 
office, and the lights are on in more ways than one.
    In a few short weeks, these things have paved the way for President 
Aristide's return. Haiti's voyage back to reclaim its democratically 
elected government is surely a cause for celebration. But the days and 
weeks ahead will be full of arduous work, and they will not be free of 
danger.
    Now more than ever, I urge the Haitian people to come together in a 
spirit of reconciliation and peace, the spirit so eloquently advanced by 
President Aristide himself. As he has said, there should be no 
vengeance, no violence, no retribution. This is a time for peace. That 
is what the United States and its coalition partners are working for, 
and I am certain that that spirit will continue to prevail when the 
multinational force turns its responsibilities over to the United 
Nations.
    President Aristide's return to Port-au-Prince sets the stage for the 
Haitian people to take control of their future. The task is large: to 
strengthen a young and fragile democracy, to build a new economy based 
on opportunity, small enterprise, and steady development. The 
international community has pledged to do all it can to help, starting 
with a one-year, $550 million reconstruction and recovery program to 
fund humanitarian relief, provide economic assistance, support the 
institutions that must become a permanent foundation for Haitian 
democracy.

[[Page 2025]]

    To help launch the economic recovery more immediately, I am pleased 
to announce that today I will sign an Executive order lifting all 
economic sanctions against Haiti after President Aristide returns. Now 
that the coup leaders have departed, democracy is being restored, the 
sanctions have clearly served their purpose; by lifting trade, banking, 
and travel restrictions, we can help to give back to the Haitian people 
the opportunities they need to grow and to prosper and to preserve their 
freedom.
    Ultimately, the task of rebuilding Haiti belongs to the people of 
Haiti themselves. Theirs will be a long and hard road. Each and every 
citizen must make a contribution. It will take a lot of patience, but it 
will be a joyous effort if it is done in the right spirit and if the 
rest of us do our part to help.
    The progress will begin with reconciliation, as the President has 
said. He will go home in that spirit, vowing to oppose all who seek 
revenge and retribution. Tomorrow, when he resumes his duties, as he has 
said, it will be just the beginning. But what a beginning it is.
    President Aristide has also vowed to step down at the end of his 
term, leaving his office to the next democratically elected President. 
In one of the most insightful comments about democratic government I 
have ever heard, he has said that when you start a democracy the most 
important election is the second one. This is the kind of insight that 
will serve Haiti so well in the years ahead.
    Let me conclude by expressing my gratitude to all those who have 
done their part to give Haiti a second chance, something we need more 
for not only countries but people in this old world. I thank the 30 
countries whose troops are in Haiti as part of the multinational 
coalition and all the nations who joined our multilateral efforts in the 
Caribbean community, the Organization of American States, and United 
Nations. Your efforts have made our hemisphere safer and sent a message 
of resolve around the world.
    I thank the men and women of our Armed Forces who have answered the 
call and performed a difficult job with skill, devotion, and humanity. 
You are the steel in the sword of America's diplomacy. Thanks to your 
efforts, the world knows that we will stand for democracy, honor our 
commitments, and expect others to honor theirs.
    I thank especially the families of our service members here at home, 
those who make such great sacrifices. Some of them, including the 
children, are here today, and I would like to ask them to stand and be 
recognized, the families of the service people serving in Haiti. 
[Applause]
    And finally, to the American people, I say that although we are not, 
we cannot, and we should not be the policemen of the world, we have 
proved once again that America will stand up for others when the cause 
is clear, the mission is achievable, and our interests are at stake. The 
American people have done the right thing in Haiti. They have stood for 
what is best about America. And because of the support of the American 
people, democracy will be stronger tomorrow than it is today all around 
the world.
    Finally, to President Aristide and the people of Haiti, for 3 years 
you have kept faith against all odds that one day a government of the 
people would be restored to your native land. Tomorrow will be that day. 
You have survived decades of violence, terror, poverty with dignity, 
pride, and hope. Now you and your people will have the opportunity to 
make democracy work for yourselves; to let all the children we are tired 
of seeing in turmoil on our newscasts become a part of that vast mass of 
humanity in free societies seeking their God-given potential. I say to 
you, bonne chance, Haiti toma. Good luck, and long live Haiti.

Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. at the North Portico of the West 
Wing at the White House.