Comeback President Takes office in HaitiThe former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide took office again Wednesday after five years out of power.Aristide, 47, a former Salesian priest, won the election on November 26 last year succeeding Rene Preval to whom Aristide had previously turned over the presidency in 1996, according to reports received in Havana. Aristide was cheered by more than a thousand supporters gathered in front of the parliamentary headquarters for the celebration of his return. Senators, representatives and other guests joined the gathering. According to observers, Aristide's return to the presidency was welcomed by most poor Haitians, who put their hopes on the promises of Aristide to bring the poorest country in the Western hemisphere out of its misery. Aristide was the first democratically elected president in Haiti when he won the 1990 presidential election with an overwhelming victory by acquiring 80 percent of the votes. After winning the second election in 1994, Aristide was ousted by the military. The United States intervened by sending troops in to reinstall him. The attempt failed after a matter of months since the constitution did not allow Aristide to hold the office for two consecutive terms. Rene Preval, consequently became the Haitian president for the following five-year term. Dominican President Calls for Solution to Political ProblemsThe President of the Dominican Republic, Hipolito Mejia, called for a solution to internal political problems in Haiti, where President-elect Jean Bertrand Aristide is to take office on Wednesday.According to reports received in Havana, Mejia suspended his participation in the presidential ceremony in Haiti, its neighboring country. President Mejia did however underscored the interest of his country to enhance relations with Haiti and mentioned, as an example, the participation of a high level delegation headed by Dominican Secretary of State for External Relations Hugo Tolentino. Dominican media reported that the republic has deployed hundreds of troops to strengthen its common border with Haiti, should uprisings take place once Aristide takes office. The political event in Haiti will take place at the Government Palace of Port-au-Prince, where the former Roman Catholic priest will be invested as the new Haitian president. He won the office during the November 26 presidential elections, which were contested by the opposition. |
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