MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean UN peace forces to Haiti

Chile will send 270 servicemen to help keep the peace and restore democracy in Haiti, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos announced Monday.

Mr. Lagos said the decision comes on the heels of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand's resignation on Sunday and the U.N. Security Council's resolution to send an international peacekeeping mission to the Caribbean nation. Chile is a non-permanent member on the Security Council.

"Chile has agreed to participate by contributing a military contingent to the peacekeeping forces. This will be done together with the United States, France and Canada, and we understand that Brazil and other Latin American countries will soon do the same," Lagos said.

The Chilean president emphasized that the move is in line with the peace initiative introduced in the United Nations by the "Friends of Haiti Group," which includes France, the United States, Canada, Chile, Brazil and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Within the next 48 hours, Chile will be sending in 120 Special Forces, to be followed by 100 infantrymen, the president said.

In addition, 50 support troops will be dispatched to provide assistance with transportation, public health, military policing, communications, engineering and relations with civilians.

"This constitutes a major effort for Chile, but it's a major effort in the interest of peace," highlighted president Lagos.

Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet admitted there was "a certain risk" for the troops to be dispatched to Haiti but "our servicemen are trained for this type of operations, we have a commitment with the UN and our forces are constantly been trained for peace missions".

Chilean peace forces under UN command are currently stationed in Zaire, Cyprus, Kosovo and Kuwait.