Haiti - Venezuela : Government of Nicolas Maduro, Haiti in a delicate position
On Thursday, January 10, 2019, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) will hold a special meeting in Washington DC on the situation in Venezuela and the position to take on the actions of President Nicolas Maduro, who will be sworn in on the same day for a second term.
Regarding this session Bocchit Edmond the Minister of Foreign Affairs said "Haiti will behave in friendship with Venezuela. There may be problems with other countries, but we feel that this is an internal problem in Venezuela in which we decide not to interfere [...] Haiti is not willing to abandon a friend like Venezuela..."
There is no doubt that President Moïse's decision is delicate, while Haiti has a debt of almost $2 billion with Venezuela, which is its main creditor.
Several sources suggest that US authorities would put pressure on Haiti to take a stand against the Maduro Government. Chancellor Bocchit Edmond in good diplomacy recognizes exchanges with the United States on the subject, but is careful not to speak of "pressure", not to be against the United States, the main contributor of aid from Haiti...
Moreover, no decision has been communicated so far on the presence of top Haitian leaders at the inauguration of President Maduro. If the Haitian authorities can not go to Venezuela, Haiti will be represented by Lesly David the Ambassador of Haiti to Venezuela.
