Mr. Jean Bertrand Aristide's stay in South Africa

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR ORAL REPLY

QUESTION NO 1 - TRANSFERRED OF WRITTEN QUESTION NO. 316 -

PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6 of 25 JUNE 2004

QUESTIONS TIME: 08 SEPTEMBER 2004

MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) Whether the Government has determined what criteria are to be met in Haiti before Mr Jean Bertrand Aristide will be asked to leave South Africa; if not, who will determine the criteria to be used to decide when it is appropriate for Mr Aristide to return to Haiti; if so, what are those criteria;

(2) whether Mr Aristide will be requested or ordered to leave South Africa when the relevant criteria have been met; if not, (a) why not and (b) who will decide when Mr Aristide will leave South Africa; if so, who is responsible for taking such a decision;

(3) whether South Africa will return Mr Aristide to Haiti if the government of the day in that country requests his return to stand trial on charges related to corruption and/or drug charges; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) (a) what was the total cost to the taxpayer of providing asylum for Mr Aristide in South Africa as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what items are included in this cost? N354E

REPLY:

1. No.
2. Falls away.
3. That has not arisen.
4. President Aristide is using available Government facilities, so it is not possible to gauge the cost.