An official with the Department of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said yesterday, Monday that because of the lack of Consulate of Haiti in South Africa, the former President Aristide could not do directly his passport application [nearest Consulate is located in Benin].

To allow the former President to make this request, this senior official said that the Department agreed that this application can be scanned and sent by internet "This request will be processed immediately and the original will be sent later". However, the leaders of Lavalas have indicated that the lawyer of Aristide must be informed of this new procedure directly by the Department and not through the press.

The Haitian government issued yesterday a press release signed by the Minister Paul Antoine BIEN-AIMÉ, clarifying the issuance of the passport of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the Haitian Government's position:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AND

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

PRESS RELEASE

For some time, some reports suggest that the Haitian Government has refused to issue a diplomatic passports to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, thus preventing his return to Haiti.

The Government of the Republic wishes to correct the facts : the issuing or the renew of a passport is done on request of the interested to the Department of Interior and Local Authorities in the case of an ordinary passport or at the Department of Foreign Affairs in the case of a diplomatic passport.

It appears that so far neither of these Departments have received the application for the issuance or the renewal of passport from the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The Government of the Republic assured that immediately produced, such a request will be honored promptly.

It wishes to clarify, that an expired passport is not an obstacle to the return of a haitian citizen in its native country. In case where this return involves one or more stops in a third country, obtaining an authorization from these countries may be necessary, that the Passport is expired or not.

Paul Antoine BIEN-AIMÉ

Minister

If Jean-Bertrand Aristide really wants to return home and given that the Government of Haiti does not seem to have opposition, this problem of passport should not be an obstacle, the former President can always charter a plane and return directly to Haiti...

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2251-haiti-news-flash-the-government-ready-to-give-a-passport-to-aristide-update-6h20pm.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2161-haiti-politic-letter-of-aristide-about-his-return-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2151-haiti-politic-the-haitian-government-refuses-to-renew-the-passport-of-aristide.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1672-haiti-aristide-they-talk-about-democracy-but-they-refuse-exclusive-interview.html

S/ HaitiLibre