a525: Haitian Opposition Asks OAS to Re-activate Dialogue (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

HAVANA, Jan 29 (Xinhua) -- Haiti's opposition alliance, the Democratic
Convergence (CD), asked the Organization of American States (OAS) on
Tuesday to contribute to the resumption of dialogue with President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government by March 31 at the latest.
   The opposition reminded the OAS of having committed to seeking for a
solution to Haiti's political crisis with the creation of a suitable
environment to resume talks suspended last July, according to reports
reaching here from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
   An OAS mediation commission arrived in Port-au-Prince on Monday for a
visit till Thursday to evaluate the general situation in this tiny
Caribbean country.
   The mission, made up of diplomats from Santa Lucia, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, is expected to meet with Aristide and opposition leaders as well.
   The political situation in Haiti has turned more complicated since the
local and legislative elections in May 2000, which were labeled as
"fraudulent" by the opposition and some international observers who charged
that the method of calculating the results gave Lavalas more outright wins
than it was due.
   Since then, the opposition has demanded new congressional elections and
the suspension of some congressmen from their posts.
   But the negotiations, carried out between the parties in conflict to
reach a consensus on the date for new elections, were unfruitful.
   These consultations, which were canceled on July 15, are expected to
resume soon with the participation of representatives from the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) and the OAS.