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US Official Recognizes Haiti Interim Leader for Now
Source: Associated Press
US Official Recognizes Haiti Interim Leader for Now
By DAVID MCFADDEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Jun 16, 2016, 7:42 PM ET
The U.S. State Department's special coordinator for Haiti said Thursday that he recognizes Jocelerme Privert as the troubled country's interim president for now even though the divided Parliament is avoiding a vote on potentially extending his expired mandate.
In a phone call with reporters, Kenneth Merten was asked by The Associated Press if the U.S. still recognized Privert as Haiti's provisional leader even though his 120-day mandate ended midnight Tuesday under the terms of a negotiated accord that brought him to power.
Merten responded: "I would have to say I would recognize him as the interim president of Haiti" at this time. But he stressed that Haitian electoral authorities should "act soon to clarify" who the country's provisional leader is moving forward.
The U.S. official's comments are significant because a Haitian opposition coalition insists that Privert is unlawfully holding onto power and is exhorting the international community, Haiti's police force and civil society to view him as entirely illegitimate. The United States is Haiti's largest donor and trading partner and has long had influence here.
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By DAVID MCFADDEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Jun 16, 2016, 7:42 PM ET
The U.S. State Department's special coordinator for Haiti said Thursday that he recognizes Jocelerme Privert as the troubled country's interim president for now even though the divided Parliament is avoiding a vote on potentially extending his expired mandate.
In a phone call with reporters, Kenneth Merten was asked by The Associated Press if the U.S. still recognized Privert as Haiti's provisional leader even though his 120-day mandate ended midnight Tuesday under the terms of a negotiated accord that brought him to power.
Merten responded: "I would have to say I would recognize him as the interim president of Haiti" at this time. But he stressed that Haitian electoral authorities should "act soon to clarify" who the country's provisional leader is moving forward.
The U.S. official's comments are significant because a Haitian opposition coalition insists that Privert is unlawfully holding onto power and is exhorting the international community, Haiti's police force and civil society to view him as entirely illegitimate. The United States is Haiti's largest donor and trading partner and has long had influence here.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-official-recognizes-haiti-interim-leader-now-39917844
