Marius Fransman - Haiti Observer Blog

Contrary to what the US government would hope for, former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is planning to return to Haiti on Thursday, March 17, three days before the March 20 election. Aristide ignores the recommendation of the US government who suggested that he waited until after Haiti election to return.

It seems that the US Government does not have that much leverage over the South African government. The United States wanted the South African government to hold Aristide there until after the election. However, according to South African Deputy Foreign Minister Marius Fransman: "It is not our responsibility to say if Jean-Bertrand Aristide should or should not leave South Africa".

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