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19. Sir John Coles asked about Haiti. Ambassador Petrella said there was deadlock. He thought Aristide's chances of going back as President were slim. He was not "reputable" but acknowledged that Aristide had received electoral endorsement. Some in Argentina were questioning why it should continue to take part in the naval blockade, noting that the British and Dutch ships were withdrawing. His government had asked Venezuela to take over Argentina's role, but this seemed unlikely given the internal situation in Venezuela. Sir John Coles pointed out that an RN ship had been diverted from other duties in the Caribbean and now had to resume these. Its participation in the blockade was never intended to be long-term.
Latin America Department
13 December 1993
cc: Sir J Coles
Mr Beamish
CED
Eastern D
EAU
ECD (E)
ECD(I)
FED
HKD
LAD
MED
NENAD
SAD
UND
WIAD
Chancery, Buenos Aires
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