Originally: Senator Clinton Meets With Haitian-American Leadership
Alice Blanchet meets with Sen. Hillary Clinton to discuss bipartisan rebuilding of Haiti. Alice is director of development for the Haiti Democracy Project. She has served as adviser to Prime Ministers Robert Malval, Smarck Michel, Claudette Werleigh, and Rosny Smarth.
March 5, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press office: (212) 688-9559
SENATOR CLINTON MEETS WITH HAITIAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
Urges Compassion, Assistance for the People of Haiti
Washington, D.C. ? Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) met, today, with leaders of New York City and the Tri-State area?s Haitian American community to discuss the situation on the ground in Haiti and the fears and concerns of their family and friends who live in New York. ?Our prayers and our thoughts go out to the people of Haiti at this very difficult time. I hope the United States will continue to demonstrate leadership in the effort to bring about stability to the country,? Senator Clinton said.
She added, ?I share the concerns of the community that everything must be done that can be done to make sure that Haiti can quickly restore democracy and freedom for the Haitian people.?
Senator Clinton also said that immediate attention must be paid to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. ?There is a need for food, medicine and other supplies. In our meeting we discussed how best to assist the non-governmental organizations in the country that are working hard to help care for the people,? she said.
?The community in New York is, understandably, very worried. We must make sure that adequate assistance is delivered to Haiti in an urgent manner. Clearly the problems in Haiti did not arise overnight and will not be resolved overnight and I plan to work with the Haitian-American community to provide support during this time of need,? the Senator concluded.
In the meeting the Senator and community representatives discussed some specific information and resources related to Haiti. This information is outlined as follows:
RESOURCES AVAILABLE RELATED TO HAITI
· Department of State Office of American Citizen Services (ACS)
ACS has set up an official ?Monitoring Group.? This group is in close contact with the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince and is able to answer most questions. Officials at the ACS instruct constituents to consult with the Department of State website for information on travel warnings to Haiti.
The Group is also closely monitoring adoption filed by U.S. citizens. If there are any adoptive parents who have questions related to a pending adoption, they should contact the Monitoring Group.
The Monitoring Group can be reached at: 202-647-6611
The website is: http://travel.state.gov/haiti_warning.html
· Money Transfers through the State Department
According to the Office of American Citizen Services and the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, the Department of State has set up a system whereby people in the US can wire money to U.S. Citizens in Haiti. This service will be available on Monday, March 8, 2004.
In order to use this service, constituents should call: 1-888-407-4747. There is a thirty dollar fee to use this service.
· Money transfers through private institutions
Citibank and Sogebank resumed service today. Anyone who has a bank account at one of these institutions can wire money to relatives and friends in Haiti. For more information, contact Citibank at 011-509-299-3200 or
Sogebank at: 011-509-229-5000
· Embassy Services
Emergency Citizen Services will resume on Monday, March 8th. The Embassy is currently not capable of issuing visas.
· Flights and airlines
According to ACS, Air Canada plans to resume flights on Saturday, March 6. American Airlines plans to resume flights on Tuesday March 9.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
March 5, 2004 Press office: (212) 688-9559
SENATOR CLINTON MEETS WITH HAITIAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
Urges Compassion, Assistance for the People of Haiti
Washington, D.C. ? Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) met, today, with leaders of New York City and the Tri-State area?s Haitian American community to discuss the situation on the ground in Haiti and the fears and concerns of their family and friends who live in New York. ?Our prayers and our thoughts go out to the people of Haiti at this very difficult time. I hope the United States will continue to demonstrate leadership in the effort to bring about stability to the country,? Senator Clinton said.
She added, ?I share the concerns of the community that everything must be done that can be done to make sure that Haiti can quickly restore democracy and freedom for the Haitian people.?
Senator Clinton also said that immediate attention must be paid to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. ?There is a need for food, medicine and other supplies. In our meeting we discussed how best to assist the non-governmental organizations in the country that are working hard to help care for the people,? she said.
?The community in New York is, understandably, very worried. We must make sure that adequate assistance is delivered to Haiti in an urgent manner. Clearly the problems in Haiti did not arise overnight and will not be resolved overnight and I plan to work with the Haitian-American community to provide support during this time of need,? the Senator concluded.
In the meeting the Senator and community representatives discussed some specific information and resources related to Haiti. This information is outlined as follows:
RESOURCES AVAILABLE RELATED TO HAITI
· Department of State Office of American Citizen Services (ACS)
ACS has set up an official ?Monitoring Group.? This group is in close contact with the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince and is able to answer most questions. Officials at the ACS instruct constituents to consult with the Department of State website for information on travel warnings to Haiti.
The Group is also closely monitoring adoption filed by U.S. citizens. If there are any adoptive parents who have questions related to a pending adoption, they should contact the Monitoring Group.
The Monitoring Group can be reached at: 202-647-6611
The website is: http://travel.state.gov/haiti_warning.html
· Money Transfers through the State Department
According to the Office of American Citizen Services and the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, the Department of State has set up a system whereby people in the US can wire money to U.S. Citizens in Haiti. This service will be available on Monday, March 8, 2004.
In order to use this service, constituents should call: 1-888-407-4747. There is a thirty dollar fee to use this service.
· Money transfers through private institutions
Citibank and Sogebank resumed service today. Anyone who has a bank account at one of these institutions can wire money to relatives and friends in Haiti. For more information, contact Citibank at 011-509-299-3200 or
Sogebank at: 011-509-229-5000
· Embassy Services
Emergency Citizen Services will resume on Monday, March 8th. The Embassy is currently not capable of issuing visas.
· Flights and airlines
According to ACS, Air Canada plans to resume flights on Saturday, March 6. American Airlines plans to resume flights on Tuesday March 9.
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