The Clinton administration is still "resolute" about reinstating exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and is seeking a new formula to achieve that goal, Secretary of State Warren Christopher said Friday.
He also said he remains committed to carrying out the terms of the agreement last July in which the Haitian military promised to step down and to allow the return of Aristide.Speaking to reporters during a photo session with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, Christopher denied reports the administration has given up on restoring Aristide to power.
Asked if the administration is still working for Aristide's return, Christopher said, "Absolutely."
Other officials said the administration is pinning its hopes on a U.N.-mandated oil embargo against Haiti, which is expected to leave the country virtually without fuel supplies in a matter of weeks.
At that point, the officials predicted, Haiti's military will be forced to back down because the country will face almost total economic paralysis.
Hopes for a negotiated settlement suffered a setback this week when Robert Malval, who stepped down as prime minister on Wednesday and now serves as acting head of government, abandoned a plan for a national con-ference to discuss the country's political crisis.
U.S. officials said Aristide initially supported the proposal but served notice last Monday he was opposed.
Aides said Aristide felt that conditions in Haiti would not permit a freewheeling political debate, a sentiment shared by virtually all of the deposed president's top aides.
Aristide also was opposed to the idea because of doubts about what such a conclave would produce.
Aristide fully supports the pact that was agreed to last July at Governor's Island in New York, and Christopher said Friday the administration is in agreement.
"I don't pretend at all that the path will be easy, but the United States is resolute about pursuing a restoration of democracy and returning President Aristide," he said.
"I think we are going to try to find some ways to reactivate the Governors Island accord, which seems to us to continue to be the right structure to move forward."