Clinton Meets With Aristide, Haiti Premier

President Clinton, saying that he wanted to “reaffirm the support of the United States” for Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, met for 45 minutes at the White House on Monday with the exiled leader and Haitian Prime Minister Robert Malval.

The meeting, Clinton’s first with Aristide since allegations by the CIA that the Haitian leader suffered from mental problems, came amid efforts by Malval and others to restart negotiations with the ruling military junta that might help resolve Haiti’s political deadlock.

Earlier in the day, Malval, who has said repeatedly that he would step down as prime minister on Dec. 15, announced that he would remain in Haiti as acting prime minister beyond the deadline.

“Our country is in a very deep political problem--in an impasse--and we must find a way out,” Malval told an afternoon news conference at which he announced his intentions.

U.S. officials and supporters of Aristide greeted the news of Malval’s decision with relief. They had feared that if he left, all hopes for a negotiated settlement to the Haitian standoff would leave with him.

Malval said he would welcome all Haitian parties including the military to a new round of negotiations but insisted that “in no way will we get out of the framework of the Governors Island agreement.”

The agreement, signed last summer by both parties in the Haitian dispute, committed the military junta that overthrew Aristide in September, 1991, to allow him to return to his post. In exchange, Aristide--Haiti’s first democratically elected president--agreed to grant amnesty to the military leaders who carried out the coup.

But the junta, led by Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras, reneged on the deal, which was to have returned Aristide to power by Oct. 31. They now contend that Aristide has not taken all the necessary steps to ensure their protection from prosecution.

Since then, some critics have questioned the Clinton Administration’s Haitian policy in light of CIA reports--largely discounted by White House officials--that Aristide suffers from mental problems.

Clinton, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, complimented Malval for his decision to remain as acting prime minister and for his attempt “to try to revitalize and broaden the talks in Haiti.”

U.S. officials conceded, however, that--despite the hopeful talk of dialogue--they have yet to see any concrete indication that Cedras or other Haitian military chiefs are willing to abandon their grip on power or allow Aristide to return.