THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 20, 1994 TAG: 9409200487
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
The United States will spend at least $500 million on the short-term costs of military operations to restore democracy in Haiti, and will contribute to a four-year, $2 billion international effort to shore up the poor country's economy.
Monday, the Clinton administration formally told Congress it was shifting some $93 million from various foreign aid and military accounts to meet immediate costs of the Haiti operation.
The bulk of that amount is to pay for salaries, supplies and equipment for some 2,000 foreign troops from two dozen countries who were enlisted to lend international support to the military operation in its early stages.
For example, the United States is paying $900 per month, per soldier, to each foreign government - the salary amount set by the United Nations for peacekeeping forces.
``The United States will, as necessary pay the expenses of these countries including the costs to transport, train, deploy and equip their personnel,'' the State Department said in a memo justifying the expense.
In addition, the United States has agreed to put $20 million into an international effort to pay off Haiti's past-due payments to international lenders such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Haiti is now some $75 million in arrears, and bringing the accounts current would free new loan money.
Administration officials briefing Congress on the spending also said the Pentagon soon will ask for a supplemental appropriation of $500 million to $600 million to cover costs of U.S. troops, equipment and supplies.
The situation illustrates the difference between riding to the rescue of a wealthy country and a desperately poor nation like Haiti. During the Persian Gulf War to free Kuwait from Iraqi domination, much of the cost was reimbursed by the Kuwaitis and their oil-rich neighbor, Saudi Arabia.
KEYWORDS: HAITI COST by CNB