By Jim Garamone<br />American Forces Press Service<br /><br />PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 14, 2004 – The arrival of the Marines here on the<br />same day that Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned as Haiti's president prevented<br />many Haitian deaths here, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti said here March 13.<br /><br />James B. Foley met with Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers at the Toussaint<br />L'Overture Airport here. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff finished a<br />five-day trip to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile with a stop in Haiti.<br /><br />Myers met with Marines, sailors and airmen. He also met with U.S., French,<br />Chilean and Canadian commanders. During a press conference, Myers thanked the<br />partners. He said the Multinational Interim Force is establishing the<br />conditions for a follow-on force. The United States leads the U.N.-authorized<br />interim force. It is authorized for 90 days.<br /><br />Myers also expressed his "tremendous appreciation for the U.S. troops that are<br />serving here. The United States of America has called upon their service to<br />help the people of this country and they are serving extremely well."<br /><br />Myers said the force has helped bring stability to Port-au-Prince. Embassy<br />officials said the force's presence probably prevented a coup. As it is, the<br />political process is uninterrupted. The constitutional successor to Aristide –<br />the chief justice of Haiti's Supreme Court – took office after Aristide<br />resigned, a new prime minister has been chosen and the political process will<br />continue.<br /><br />Embassy officials said disarming the factions remains a problem, but that the<br />multinational force has begun the process. Embassy officials estimate there are<br />thousands of automatic weapons in Haiti.<br /><br />It is important to remember that the multinational force has been in Haiti for<br />only a week, Myers said. The conditions that brought about the need for the<br />multinational force will not go without a lot of work, and the Haitians must<br />help, he said. Myers had a message for those Haitians who wish to prolong the<br />chaos in Haiti. "The Multinational Interim Force will not tolerate violence<br />against the multinational force, nor violence against Haitian civilians," Myers<br />said. "If there is to be hope on this island, there has to be peace and<br />stability. Those who are planning more violence are going to be dealt with<br />accordingly."<br /><br />While Myers visited Haiti, an Antonov transport plane landed, carrying Canadian<br />forces and their equipment. Chilean forces escorted Mary Jo Myers, the<br />chairman's wife. French gendarmes patrolled with the Haitian National Police.<br />Other nations, such as Argentina and Brazil, have sent humanitarian supplies to<br />Haiti.<br /><br />A United Nations assessment team is in Port-au-Prince to judge how large a<br />follow-on force will be needed. Many countries in the hemisphere have said they<br />would help in a U.N. peacekeeping operation in Haiti. Myers said he does not<br />know how large a follow-on force in Haiti would be, but he said it probably<br />would be a mix of military and police personnel.<br /><br /> Biographies:<br />Gen. Richard B. Myers [/bios/myers_bio.html]<br />Ambassador James B.<br />Foley [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/25992.htm]<br /><spacer type=vertical size=5><br /><br />Related AFPS Articles:<br />Chairman Says U.S.-Chile<br />Relations Key to Haitian Success [/news/Mar2004/n03132004_200403132.html]<br />Cooperation Needed in Terror<br />Fight, Myers Says [/news/Mar2004/n03132004_200403131.html]<br />Myers Discusses Haiti,<br />Terrorism, Brazil's Shoot-Down Policy [/news/Mar2004/n03112004_200403112.html]<br />Myers Touts Military Contacts<br />in Paraguay [/news/Mar2004/n03112004_200403116.html]<br />Madrid Attacks Stresses Need<br />for Cooperation, Myers Says [/news/Mar2004/n03112004_200403117.html]<br />Brazilian Military System Put<br />to Civilian Uses [/news/Mar2004/n03112004_200403111.html]<br />Multinational Force to Help<br />Haitian Police Disarm Populace [/news/Mar2004/n03102004_200403107.html]<br />Different Terrain, Common<br />Tactics in Brazil [/news/Mar2004/n03092004_200403098.html]<br /><spacer type=vertical size=5><br /><br />Related Sites:<br />Joint Chiefs of Staff [http://www.dtic.mil/jcs/]<br />State Department Background<br />Notes on Haiti [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1982.htm]<br />United Nations [http://www.un.org/english/]