Chile discusses dispatching more troops to Haiti with Brazil,Caricom

Chile discussed the possible dispatch of more peacekeeping troops to Haiti with Brazil and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) this week, and the decision must be made in several days, Chilean newspaper La Tercera reported Saturday.

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos discussed the issue with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Caricom Chairman Percival Patterson in a phone call on Thursday, the newspaper said.

The conversation was part of the consultations held by Chile before it decided to maintain its military presence in Haiti.

Chile would support Brazil on the issue and exchange experiencein peacekeeping missions with Brazilian troops whether it deploys more troops in Haiti, government sources quoted Lagos as saying.

Meanwhile, Chilean Defense Minister Michelle Bachelet mentionedthe costs of a second military phase sponsored by the United Nations.

"If the decision to advance to a second phase was taken, it would be a UN operation with UN reimbursement," she said.

However, she said the economic issue was not the only one underevaluation because "there are a lot of other more global factors that must be considered, like the political ones and the strength capacity."

Bachelet also talked about the matter with her regional counterparts, saying the decision would be taken "very soon."

After a rebellion forced former Haitian President Jean-BertrandAristide to step down and leave the country in exile in February, the United States, Canada, Chile and France dispatched several thousand troops to Haiti to restore order.

Last month, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing a UN peacekeeping mission to take over responsibilities in Haiti on June 1 with a maximum of 6,700 soldiers and 1,600 civilian police.

Source: Xinhua