#4588: UN's Kofi Annan on Haiti (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Annan regrets holding of run-off vote in Haiti,
despite first round irregularities

10 July 2000-- Secretary-General Kofi Annan today
expressed regret that the electoral council and Haitian
authorities had chosen to proceed with holding run-off
parliamentary elections on Sunday without having
resolved outstanding issues related to the first round.

"In particular, he notes that the electoral council has
not corrected irregularities in the methodology used to
calculate the vote percentages for Senate candidates,
as pointed out by the Organization of American States
as well as by other domestic and international observers,"
Mr. Annan's spokesman said today in a statement.

The Haitian people demonstrated their commitment to the
democratic process by registering to vote and participating
in record numbers on 21 May, the statement said. He noted,
however, that "that commitment has been tested by
subsequent events, contributing to the low turnout in
yesterday's run-off and the use of force and other
improprieties to influence the outcome."

Last week, the Security Council encouraged the Haitian
Government to investigate electoral irregularities,
emphasizing that free and fair elections were crucial to
democracy and all aspects of Haiti's development.

Reiterating the Council's call, the Secretary-General
today urged Haitian leaders "to heed the wishes of the
people of Haiti, who have repeatedly expressed their
desire for a return to constitutionality," the statement
said.

posted on  7/11/2000



©1999 Haiti Online [HOL].
P.O. Box 960183
Miami FL. 33296-0183  

Tous droits réservés. All Rights Reserved