Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 19595 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29 2011/06/30
2011/07/01 2011/07/02 2011/07/04 2011/07/05 2011/07/06 2011/07/07 2011/07/08 2011/07/10 2011/07/11 2011/07/12 2011/07/13 2011/07/14 2011/07/15 2011/07/16 2011/07/17 2011/07/18 2011/07/19 2011/07/20 2011/07/21 2011/07/22 2011/07/23 2011/07/25

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/02 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04 1995/06 1995/11
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/03 1997/05 1997/06 1997/08 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05 1998/12
1999/01 1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/06 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy Libreville Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maseru Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ATRN ADM ALOW ACOA AID AND ABUD ARF AY AMED ASPA AL APEC ADPM ADANA AFSI ARABL ADCO ANARCHISTS AZ ANET AMEDCASCKFLO AADP AO AGRICULTURE AGAO ASEAN APRC AFSN AFSA AORG ACABQ AINF AINR AODE APCS AROC ARCH ADB AX AMEX ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ARAS ACBAQ AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BE BO BTIO BH BAIO BRPA BUSH BILAT BF BX BC BOL BMGT BP BIDEN BBG BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CB CW CM CDC CONS CHR CD CT CR CAMBODIA CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CARICOM COM CICTE CYPRUS CBE CACS COE CIVS CFED CARSON COPUOS COUNTER CAPC CTR CV CITES CKGR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CAJC CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DB DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DE DK DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ENV EAG EET ELECTIONS ESTH ETRO EPEC ECIP EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV ERNG EPA ENGY ETRAD ELTNSNAR ENGR ETRC ELAP EUREM EEB EETC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIDS ECOSOC EDU EPREL ECA EIDN EFINECONCS EINVEFIN EINVKSCA ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS EDRC ENRD EBRD ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FOREIGN FTAA FARC FREEDOM FAS FAO FINANCE FBI FCS FAA FJ FTA FK FT FAC FDA FM FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GERARD GT GA GG GR GTIP GE GY GH GLOBAL GB GEORGE GCC GV GC GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GTMO GANGS GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HA HYMPSK HO HK HUMAN HN HUD HU HURI HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IPR IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY IADB ITPGOV ITALIAN ID ICAO ICRC INR IFAD ICJ IO IRAQ INL INMARSAT INRA INTERNAL INTELSAT INDO ILC IRS IIP IQ IAHRC ITRA IEFIN ICTY ISCON IA INTERPOL IEA INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOHN JUS JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KSAF KHIV KSTC KIRF KIRC KMPI KIDE KSEO KSCS KNNNP KGLB KNUC KICC KCFE KIVP KTDD KPWR KNUP KO KHLS KR KCOM KESS KCSY KWN KRFD KREC KBCT KICCPUR KGIT KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KREL KMCC KPRV KPRP KVIR KPAOPREL KAUST KIRP KLAB KCRIM KPAONZ KCRCM KHDP KHSA KNAR KICA KGHA KTRD KTAO KPAOY KINR KJUST KWAC KNPP KNDP KSCI KMRS KTBT KHUM KBTS KNNPMNUC KACT KAWK KPIR KFSC KAID KERG KENV KMFO KVRP KTLA KPOA KX KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KSEC KPIN KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LO LH LAB LI LTTE LU LA LVPR LT LG LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MO MCC MCA MAS MZ MIL MU ML MTCR MEPP MG MI MINUSTAH MP MA MD MAPP MR MAR MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MN MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NSF NA NP NATIONAL NASA NC NDP NIH NIPP NSSP NK NEGROPONTE NGO NE NAS NATOIRAQ NAR NR NZUS NARC NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG NOAA
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OSCI OIE OPAD ODIP OM OFDP OFFICIALS OEXP OPEC OVIPPRELUNGANU ODPC OHUM OSHA OSIC OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PA PNAT PCI PALESTINIAN PAS PO PH PROV PRELBR PERM PETR PROP PJUS POLITICAL PREZ PAO PRELPK PAIGH PROG PMAR PU PG PDOV PTE PGOVSOCI PGOR PY PMIL PBTSRU PPA PRAM PREO PINO PARMS PERL PTERE PSI PGOF PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RO ROBERT RM RICE REGION ROOD RELAM RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SG SENS SF SENVQGR SEN SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR SN SC SNA SK SL SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SAARC SNARIZ STEINBERG SARS SWE SCRS SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TRSY TZ TP TN TINT TC TR TIO TF TK TRAD TT TD TWI TERRORISM TL TV TO TURKEY TSPAM TREL TRT TFIN TAGS THPY TBID
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UY UNRCR UNESCO UNHRC UNICEF USPS UNSCR UNHCR UNFICYP UNCSD UNEP USOAS USAID UNDP UV UNTAC USUN USDA UNMIC UNCHR UNCTAD UR USGS USNC UA UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNCHC UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VN VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VISIT VENZ VAT VC VI
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WHO WFP WS WA WZ WI WMD WBG WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XY XR XG XT XC XH XD XE XV XB XU XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YE YL YMCS
ZU ZI ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZO ZK ZF ZL ZB ZN ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 03NASSAU766, BAHAMAS UNLIKELY TO PRESSURE ARISTIDE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03NASSAU766.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
03NASSAU766 | 2003-04-17 14:36 | 2011-07-21 18:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Nassau
Appears in these articles: http://www.haiti-liberte.com/archives/volume5-1/Campagne%20des%20E.U..asp

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000766

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2013
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF HA BF
    SUBJECT: BAHAMAS UNLIKELY TO PRESSURE ARISTIDE

    Classified By: DCM Robert M. Witajewski, Reasons 1.5(b) and (d)

    Summary

    ¶1.  (C) After returning from the OAS/CARICOM meeting on Haiti
    in Miami, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell dismissed the
    possibility of invoking the democracy provision of the OAS
    Charter in the case of Haiti.  He acknowledged problems with
    democracy in Haiti, but made it clear that the Bahamian
    government preferred continued engagement with President
    Aristide to any type of public confrontation.  He also
    announced a decision to provide $500,000 in economic
    assistance to Haiti, while admitting that it would not do
    much good if the political situation did not improve.
    Mitchell's main concern is doing whatever he can to slow down
    illegal immigration from Haiti - a key domestic political
    imperative - and he has been fruitlessly pursuing an
    immigration accord with the Government of Haiti for several
    months.  A high official at the Foreign Ministry, although he
    proclaimed himself "not competent" to comment on Haiti policy
    (or much of anything else), confirmed that Haiti believes it
    must stay engaged with the Aristide government to prevent a
    mass migration.  End Summary.

    Democracy in Crisis...

    ¶2.  (U) Upon his return from Miami, Foreign Minister Mitchell
    discussed the situation there with the press.  He admitted
    that the CARICOM Foreign Ministers were "frustrated with the
    situation in Haiti, and said that Aristide had put the
    international community "in a difficult position" by not
    living up to his commitments.  He spoke frankly about Haiti's
    failure to: select an appropriate police commissioner, arrest
    an important fugitive involved in political violence, and
    plan for elections.  While he placed some of the blame for
    the lack of progress toward a political solution on the
    opposition, he acknowledged the government's greater share of
    blame and discussed the reasons why the opposition might feel
    threatened and unwilling to make concessions.

    ... But Need to Give Aristide Another Chance

    ¶3.  (U) However, Mitchell went on to say that he thought it
    was "likely that the deadline will be extended," and Aristide
    should be given yet another chance to meet his commitments.
    He pointed out that The Bahamas, in his opinion has no
    choice: "We cannot afford to disengage from Haiti because
    disengaging for us is not an option."  According to Mitchell,
    the issue of Haitian migrants and the potential for mass
    migration is the key issue for The Bahamas.  Such a mass
    migration must be prevented at all costs, and Mitchell made
    it clear that he believed the best way to do that was
    continued engagement with the Aristide government in an
    attempt to improve Haiti's political and economic situation.

    ¶4.  (U) Mitchell was dismissive of the possibility of
    invoking the democracy provisions of the OAS Charter, saying
    that although "Some people argue that's the case in Haiti ...
    I think that is taking it a little bit too far."  He
    described the U.S. position on Haiti as "hard-minded", and
    called for continued dialogue.  Mitchell also announced a
    $500,000 economic assistance package for Haiti.  In
    announcing it, he acknowledged that the assistance would
    likely not do much good unless the political impasse were
    resolved.  Mitchell defended the package, however, by
    reiterating that the Government of the Bahamas must do
    whatever it can to improve the economic situation in Haiti
    because of the impact The Bahamas would likely feel if
    further economic and political crisis resulted in a mass
    migration.  He made it very clear that this is the paramount
    issue for The Bahamas.

    Who Is Competent Then?

    ¶5.  (C) DCM and POL/ECON section chief raised the issue of
    Haiti with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for
    Political Affairs Marco Rolle in an April 15 meeting
    requested by Rolle to go over the list of pending items
    between the Embassy and the MFA.  Rolle, despite being the
    number three official at the Ministry of Embassy (he is the
    Bahamian equivalent of Undersecretary Grossman) and having
    accompanied Mitchell to both Miami and the press conference,
    told us that he "was not competent" to talk about Haiti
    policy with us.  He couldn't even confirm any details about
    the aid package the Minister had announced in his presence.
    Nor could he comment on progress made toward an immigration
    accord with Haiti or the upcoming visit by Mitchell to Haiti
    in late March beyond confirming the dates (May 22-23).  The
    one specific response we received to a question was whether
    or not Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell planned to make any
    trips or telephone calls to Haitian counterparts prior to the
    April 30 OAS meeting in Washington.  The answer is: No.

    Consistently Not Competent

    ¶6.  (C) Inability to provide specific responses to queries
    was a consistent theme of our conversation with Rolle.  Of
    the fifteen pending items on our agenda, he was unable to
    comment meaningfully on any single one of them, and could not
    point to MFA progress in resolving any of the issues which
    have been pending anywhere from 2-3 weeks (dip notes
    regarding a trade dispute, RBDF training and a proposal to
    form an anti-alien-smuggling task force) to 6 years (request
    for a bilateral work agreement).  Rolle, a career civil
    servant with no background in foreign affairs, has only been
    with the ministry for about seven months, so it can be
    understood that he might not be familiar with every issue,
    but we would think he could do better than 0 for 15.  The
    Bahamian civil service has honed sloth and delay disguised as
    deliberation and consensus-building to a fine art.
    Comment

    ¶7.   (C) We believe the bottom line for The Bahamas on Haiti
    is their fear of mass migration and doing anything that might
    trigger an outflow.  Mitchell in particular has made
    conclusion of an immigration agreement his top foreign policy
    priority.  Our sources in the Immigration Department tell us
    the negotiations are not going well, stalled over Haitian
    insistence on an amnesty for the 30,000 - 100,000 Haitians
    already in The Bahamas (most illegally).  Such a concession
    would be suicide for Mitchell in the xenophobic Bahamian
    political landscape.  Pursuit of this agreement and any other
    means to slow down migration will continue to push any
    concerns for democracy and human rights into the backseat.
    While The Bahamas will remain engaged on Haiti, the Christie
    government will resist any effort to put real teeth into any
    diplomatic effort to pressure President Aristide, preferring
    (endless) conversation and dialogue to the alternative.

    BLANKENSHIP

`