6004: Statement on Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "BriceWebb, Carline" <CBriceWebb@oas.org>


Statement on Haiti

 Yesterday's elections in Haiti for President and nine senators took place
in accord with the timetable established by the Constitution of Haiti but
without any correction of critical deficiencies in earlier local and
legislative elections.   Following the previous elections, which took place
May 21, 2000, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission had reported that the
computation of results by the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP) followed
neither the provisions of the Constitution of Haiti nor the Electoral Law.  

Pursuant to OAS Permanent Council Resolution CP/RES. 772(1247/00) of August
4, 2000, the Secretary General has sought to foster dialogue "to identify,
together with the Government of Haiti and other sectors of the political
community and civil society, options and recommendations for resolving, as
expeditiously as possible, difficulties such as those that have arisen from
differing interpretations of the Electoral Law, and for further
strengthening democracy in that country."

Between Aug 16 and Oct 20, four OAS missions, the first headed by the
Secretary General and the last three headed by the Assistant Secretary
General, produced substantial dialogue, but no consensus broad enough to
achieve a national accord to resolve the political crisis in a manner that
would elicit the support of the international community.

The decision of the Haitian authorities to proceed with the elections on
November 26 despite the absence of such an accord avoids an interruption in
the timetable for presidential succession established by the Constitution of
Haiti, but does not alter the need to resolve questions of political
representation and democratic participation critical to Haiti's development.


 The Organization of American States is committed by articles 2(a) and 2(b)
of its Charter to promote and help consolidate representative democracy and
to assist Member States to establish conditions conducive to prosperity and
peace for their peoples.  True to these Charter obligations, the OAS remains
ready to assist Haiti in efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and
to contribute to an environment of peace and security in the country.