Clinton, UN Chief ask more help for Haiti

HAITI: Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sought to refocus international attention on Haiti with a visit Monday that they hope will lure more aid to keep the impoverished country from sliding back into chaos.

The former U.S. president and the U.N. chief toured Haiti’s run-down capital and met with officials struggling with high food prices and the enduring effects of four devastating 2008 storms.

The leaders called for more foreign aid and urged Haiti’s weak central government to take charge of its own development.

“We are here to mobilize international support ... but at the same time, we expect the Haitian government” to do its part, Ban told The Associated Press on Monday afternoon.

With both a critical, long-delayed donor’s conference in Washington and elections for 12 Senate seats scheduled in April, the International Crisis Group and others have warned that Haiti’s leaders must both get billions of dollars in international aid and better manage affairs at home or its short-lived period of political calm will end.

Ban and Clinton met with President Rene Preval at the national palace on Monday evening to discuss storm recovery, environmental repair and economic assistance, including credit for farmers and increasing textile production under the 2006 U.S. trade deal “HOPE II.”

In a speech, Preval recounted the “three shocks” Haiti experienced last year: high oil prices, high food prices and the storms, which he said ruined a prime opportunity to lift Haiti out of poverty.

“We now more than ever need the solidarity of the international community,” Preval said.

The Haitian president has faced growing criticism for an alleged failure to lead, including not speaking out until nearly a week into last April’s food price riots. The unrest led to the ouster of his prime minister, who was not replaced for months because of political bickering.

Port-Au-Prince,Tuesday, AP