Status of President Jean Bertrand Aristide of Haiti in South Africa

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 41

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2 OF 28 MAY 2004

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

(1) Whether the Government still recognises Mr Jean Bertrand Aristide as the President of Haiti; if so, on what grounds does it do so;

(2) Whether any restrictions will be placed on the (a) political activities and (b) movement inside and out of South Africa of Mr Aristide while he is a resident in South Africa; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of such restrictions;

(3) (a) what was the total cost to the taxpayer as at the latest specified date for which information is available of all activities related to the granting of access to South Africa to Mr Aristide and (b) what is the total estimated cost to the taxpayer of hosting Mr Aristide for the duration of his stay;

(4) whether the Government decided to wait until after the election to announce that it would allow Mr Aristide to reside in South Africa; if so, why? N43E

REPLY:

(1) Yes, the Government recognises President Jean Bertrand Aristide as the legitimately elected President of Haiti.

(2) There will be no restrictions, apart from those dictated by reasons of security.

(3) The financial upkeep of President Aristide and his family will be done in accordance with the standards and procedures laid down for a Cabinet Minister in South Africa, while the security assessment will be done on an ongoing basis by the Security Establishment.

(4) No.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This section should include additional information especially in the case of ORAL REPLIES, where Members of Parliament has the option to ask 3 / 4 supplementary questions related to the question. This part will not be submitted as part of the reply handed in to Parliament. I.E. not for publication. The discussion section should not exceed 3 pages.