Today's Date:

1. – France has had only one objective throughout this crisis: to help Haiti find her way back to democracy and peace.

This is why, from the start of the crisis, France has stressed the need for the international community to take action in pursuit of this goal. To this end, she has closely consulted with the United States and her partners in the region such as Canada, Brazil and Mexico, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General. This is why we called on President Aristide, with due regard for the law, to accept the consequences of the situation of chaos which he had himself created and face up to his responsibilities. No constitutional legality any longer existed in Haiti; there was no longer anything other than the daily disorder of the bands armed by the authorities, who were looting, killing and spreading terror.

It was the responsibility of the international community – and so France – to say loudly and clearly that President Aristide could no longer go on leading his country, dispensing with all rule of law. By asking him to accept the consequences of the situation of bankruptcy into which he had plunged Haiti, France has not ignored the law; on the contrary, she wanted to restore and give it back its full force.

2. – The decisions taken yesterday in Port-au-Prince and New York are in line with what France was calling for:

- In Haiti, the constitutional rules are once again being applied: an acting president has been sworn in, according to the provisions of the Constitution. In this context, the CARICOM Action Plan proposals to establish a government of national unity are being implemented. France wants the process to move forward rapidly and bring together all the political forces which refuse violence. A drive to promote national reconciliation is needed to establish the conditions for Haiti genuinely to get back on her feet.

- In New York, the Security Council has unanimously passed UNSCR 1529 calling for the deployment of a Multinational Interim Force to restore calm and security throughout Haiti. France welcomes this decision which bears witness to the mobilization of the international community and is the result of exemplary cooperation between all the Security Council members and with Mr Kofi Annan. She is already making an initial contribution of around 300 men to this force. She also intends supporting the future follow-on United Nations stabilization mission. Nothing serious can be done in Haiti without the prior restoration of law and order and security.

3. – Besides these first measures, France wants to be at Haiti's side to help the country rebuild itself – within the next few days, new humanitarian aid resources are going to be sent to address the immediate public health problems: help for hospitals, medicines, generators – we shall subsequently provide technical assistance to help the economic and social development of Haiti which is one of the world's poorest countries. Action will be needed in every sphere: agriculture, health, training, etc.

- finally, we shall have to encourage the major international donors (World Bank, European Union, etc.) to go back into Haiti to create a solid and sustainable basis to help the Haitian economy and society.

I personally intend shortly to go to Haiti once a government of national unity has been formed and has begun working./.