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Haiti PM criticizes Jamaica for receiving Aristide 11/3/2004

Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said on Friday that Jamaica's decision to receive ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is an "unfriendly act."

According to reports reaching here Friday, the news that Aristide would return the Caribbean has worsened the situations in Haiti.

Latortue said that he would reconsider his scheduled visit to Jamaica on Saturday.

A Jamaican government bulletin said Friday that Aristide is prohibited from intervening the internal affairs of Haiti during his stay in Jamaica. The bulletin said that the purpose of Aristide's temporary visit is to meet his two daughters.

Jamaica's government added that Aristide has promised not to talk about political issues, otherwise he would be expelled from Jamaica.

On Thursday, Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson declared in a statement that Aristide will visit Jamaica next weekfrom exile in the Central African Republic.

"Mr. Aristide has expressed a wish to return temporarily to theCaribbean with his wife and to be reunited with their two young children, who are currently in the United States," Patterson said in a statement issued in Jamaica's capital of Kingston.

However, Patterson denied Aristide will seek political asylum in his country. "I would like to stress that Mr. Aristide is not requesting political asylum in Jamaica," he said.

Aristide is to travel to Jamaica with his wife Mildred and may spend "eight to ten weeks," the statement said.

Patterson said Aristide was making final arrangements for permanent residence outside the region. However, he is not sure if South Africa, which reportedly would be his final destination, can take him or not.




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