Pelosi Statement on Decision to Send International Peacekeepers to Haiti

February 29, 2004

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the resignation of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and on the announcement that U.S. Marines would be sent to Haiti as part of an international peacekeeping force:

"While it is appropriate that an international peacekeeping force is being sent to Haiti and that the United States is a part of that force, actions should have been taken to end the violence before it spread to Port-au-Prince. Had peacekeepers been sent earlier, a political settlement that better respected the results of the last democratic election with less bloodshed and chaos could have been achieved.

"As we go forward, the U.S. should be part of a process that respects the Haitian constitution, reduces violence, and provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti."

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