European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday september 20, 1994 showdown in Haiti the stars and stripes Page 5 from Page 1 Carter knew his deadline was noon sunday because Clinton had planned for Days to begin the inv asian shortly after that. Senior administration officials said the critical moment in the negotiations was when word reached Haiti that the . Inva Sion Force was on the move. They said that the impasse appeared to break after the haitian army s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Philippe Biamby walked into the office of the military s Leader it. Gen. Raoul Cedras with a cellular phone and some bad news a source said . Planes were on the Way. I m absolutely convinced that it is being aware of the preparations of such an Over whelming Force that caused him to blink said army Gen. John m. Shalikashvil chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. But Carter said the incident nearly de railed the talks. The launching of the first wave while we were still trying to negotiate peace was a very disturbing thing to us and to them said Carter in an interview on can. He said word of the . Forces move ments arrived while he and retired army Gen. Colin l. Powell the former chairman of the joint chiefs and sen. Sam nun Ned ga., were meeting with Cedras Carter said the haitian general remarked that he would have to break off the talks to marshal our forces to defend the the a negotiators then walked across the Street to the office of Haiti s 81-year-old president Emile Jonassaint whom Carter quoted As saying in the strongest and most emotional Way. Well have peace not War.". \. Carter said that although he went to Haiti with a mandate Only to negotiate the withdrawal from Power or the Junta that required discussions of the Many facets of those arrangements. He said that when an agreement finally was reached in Jonassaint s office Powell asked Cidras if he would Honor it. According to Carter Cedras answered that the haitian military worked under civilian authority and would abide by the agreement. That is not necessarily binding Carter said. Defense Secretary William Perry and Shalikashvil gave Clinton a Chance to can cel the invasion in the 1 . Oval office meeting. Once he gave the go ahead sever Al thousand paratroops prepared to take. Off. More than 1,000 Miles away Carter Powell and Nunn were stuck. Cedras had agreed to resign but refused to set a dead line for his departure. Clinton insisted on a definite Date and would not Budge. The first urgent warnings went out Ocarter and jigs team about 5 ., before the invasion forces took off. Clinton and his senior foreign policy advisers who kept in constant Contact with the team wanted the group to leave Haiti so the invasion could commence. We were telling them you be got to get out of there now. If you Don t have it get out. Give up " said one of the officials in refused. He kept pushing for More time prodding Cedras along. The planes took to the air at 6 47 . In the meantime Haiti s military leaders agreed to an oct. 15 departure deadline and Carter informed Clinton. Although relieved Clinton did not jump at the Deal right away. But he finally approved the Deal and re called the planes a Little Over an hour into their flight. Aides said the planes were still More thana hour away from Haiti and the invasion would t have taken place until Carter s team was out of the country. But for several hours Clinton played a risky game of diplomatic Chicken making War and talking peace All at the same time. . Forces aet warm port a Prince Haiti a . Soldiers descended on Haiti mondays peacekeepers not invaders receiving a warm Welcome and meeting no resistances they began their Mission to restore the country s elected leadership. Haitians climbed Over fences at the capital s port to Greet the troops part of wave after wave of arriving soldiers and Vanguard of an occupation Force which will enforce the agreement. The greeting emphasized the support haitians gave to soldiers who will keep the peace in a country racked by brutal haitian army port takeover where pro-. Crowds fining the docks swelled to thou Sands by the afternoon followed similar Maneu vers at the Airport As . Forces seized key posts in the warily climbed off cobra and Black Hawk helicopters that Crosse from . Warships offshore Early Mon Day and set Down at the International air Field. Huge transport aircraft followed with landings in the afternoon. Earlier at first Light two . Warships and a coast guard Cutter glided into port and secured the main Harbor. Helicopters overflying port a Prince broadcast in the local Creole language the following message stay Calm. We re not at War. We re Here to restore democracy and Supply humanitarian it. Gen. Henry Hugh Shelton Field commander of the Haiti operation and former head of the 82rid airborne div arrived after the Airfield was secured. Shelton met monday with Haiti s Mili tary Leader it. Gen. Raoul Cidras. I m Happy to report that we have . Army it. Gen. Henry h. Shelton Field commander of the Haiti operation arrives been very warmly received by military at the Airport in port a Prince on monday. And the people Here in Haiti he said. Deal Haiti agreement from Page 1 monday began the difficult task of rebuilding democracy in the impoverished nation. But Many questions remained about the agreement forged even As paratroops were flying toward their destination. In Exchange for Cedras cooperation in allowing . Forces to enter and oversee a peaceful transition of Power Cedras won a general amnesty for All members of the Mil itary and reprieve from having to step Down immediately. But there was no requirement that Cedras leave Haiti. . Troops began arriving in Haiti Mon Day to enforce the agreement. This is Only Danone Powell said. There will be difficult White House text of the agreement reached in port a Prince Haiti sept.,18.1994, that averted a invasion of Haiti. 1 the purpose of this agreement is to Foster peace in Haiti to avoid violence and bloodshed to promote Freedom and onkx5racy, a forge a sustained institutions of Hahl an the uru Ted states 2 to implement this agreement the haitian military and police forces will work in close cooperation with the us military Mission. This cooperation conducted with Mutual respect will last during the transitional period required for ensuring vital institutions of the country. 3 in order to personally contribute to the Success of this agreement certain military officers of the haitian armed forces Are of Hing to consent to an Early honorable retirement in accordance with in resolutions 917 and 940 when a general amnesty will be voted int Law to the haitian Partt Emem or october 15,1994, whichever is earlier. The parties to this agreement pledge to work with the haitian parliament to expedite the action. Their successors will be named according to the haitian Constitution and existing military Law. 4 the military activities of the . Military Mission will be coordinated with the haitian military High command. 5 the economic Erna Aryl the Echarr Arnic sanctions wih be lifted without delay in accordance with relevant in. Resolutions and the need of the haitian people will be met As quickly As possible. 6 the forthcoming legislative elections will be held in a free and democratic manner. 7 it is understood that the above agreement is conditioned on the approval of the civilian governments of the United states and Haiti. A before we were going to go in on the Side of the haitian people he , we re going in on the Side of the haitian Mil Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole r-kan., questioned Why Cedras was allowed to stick around until the 15th of october maybe stay in the country and maybe run for president next Cedras has reneged on earlier agreements to re Linquish Power. The two top democrats in Congress Senate majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine and House speaker Thomas Foley of Washington said they would push for Art Early congressional vote to endorse the Accord. Carter sent to Haiti by Clinton in a last ditch Effort to avoid a full scale in Vasion called his Mission a Success we believe that the overriding result has been the avoidance of massive bloodshed and perhaps an Mere win us i Mun times ahead. The initial reaction to the agreement extended period of occupation the for there May Well be injuries or casualties was widespread Relief that a military con Mer president said. / _ it ii liar t3i i f in a \ Riofrir Nic of h 2. To we cannot guarantee anything. But we Are off to a Good Start or. said that As a result of the Clinton had been too accommodating to agreement the image we All feared has Cedras in defusing the crisis been avoided the image of american sen. Tom Harkin a Iowa at a White youngsters killing haitian youngsters and House breakfast meeting with Clinton haitian youngsters killing american and other congressional leaders Crit Ici Zed the turn of events. Flint had been avoided Clinton acknowledged during ques but some critics questioned whether tons that pubic opinion polls showed into t Eljule support among americans for an in Vasion. But he said that the Public rarely sup ports military action initially unless . Forces Are directly attacked
