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8651: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (fwd)
From: Stanley Lucas <slucas@iri.org>
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
July 11, 2001
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
Haiti: OAS Mediation Efforts
The United States supports the joint mediation efforts in Haiti of
the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) to resolve the electoral crisis stemming from
flawed May 2000 legislative elections and to strengthen democracy
and respect for human rights. The United States welcomes the
planned return to Haiti on July 12 of the joint OAS-CARICOM
mediation team led by OAS Secretary General César Gaviria.
Recent talks in Haiti achieved important progress toward an
agreement that would create a new Provisional Electoral Council
and a Commission on Electoral Guarantees and establish a framework
for national dialogue on human rights, governance, and economic
and social development. These significant breakthroughs
demonstrate the willingness of the Government of Haiti, the
political parties, and civil society to compromise and make
sacrifices for the benefit of the Haitian people.
However, a final agreement remains elusive. The United States
calls on all parties to build on progress achieved during recent
talks to tackle key issues regarding a mandate for the new
electoral council and the need for enhanced security to prepare
and hold new elections. It is also essential that Haiti's civil
society organizations continue to remain engaged and contribute to
the process of developing a Haitian solution to the crisis.
The United States notes that successful negotiations can only be
conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and compromise and
calls on all parties to refrain from further inflammatory actions
or remarks.
The United States welcomes the July 5 statement on Haiti issued by
the CARICOM Heads of Government and supports in particular their
call for President Aristide to provide the necessary measures
leading to a climate in which a definitive resolution to the
political crisis can be found.
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