7562: ACP - EU RESOLUTION (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

ACP-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
ACP-EU

RESOLUTION

on the situation in Haiti

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,

meeting in Libreville (Gabon) from 19 to 22 March 2001

having regard to its previous resolution on the situation in Haiti,

having regard to Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement concerning violations
of human rights and respect for democratic principles and the rule of law,

A. whereas the controversy surrounding the percentage calculation method
used by the Provisional Electoral Council at the legislative and municipal
elections of 21 May 2000 has still not been resolved and the country is now
in political deadlock,

B. whereas a procedure for consultation between the EU and the Haitian
authorities was initiated after the legislative and municipal elections of
21 May 2000,

C whereas the European Union has suspended cooperation with Haiti pursuant
to Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, and whereas the Haitian authorities
and the ACP Secretariat regard this decision as premature and precipitate,

D. having regard to the call by the ACP Secretariat for consultation
procedures as provided for in Article 96 to be defined clearly and
transparently and regretting the lack of genuine consultation with the
Haitian authorities,

 E. whereas respect for democratic principles and human rights is the only
means by which Haiti will find the political stability it needs for economic
and social development and is essential as a basis for the resolution of the
current crisis,

1. Calls on President Aristide and the leaders of the opposition parties to
find a political solution to the disputes concerning the percentage
calculation method used by the Provisional Electoral Council in the
legislative elections of 21 May 2000

2. Considers that the Provisional Electoral Council must remain independent,
representative and transparent and must be given the task of amending the
vote calculation method in order to lead the country out of its political
deadlock and create conditions conducive to the development of the country;

3. Calls on the Commission to examine ways of assisting the Haitian people;

4. Considers that it is necessary to adopt clear and transparent criteria
for the consultation procedure under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement and
to assess the democratic process in terms of respect for human rights, the
rule of law and the democratisation of society in general;

5. Calls on the Bureau of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly to explore ways
of involving the Assembly in consultation procedures under Article 96;

6. Considers that aid to development can only be accorded subject to respect
for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law as laid down in
Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement;

 7. Calls, therefore, on the Council and Commission to resume genuine
consultations with Haiti, where the economic situation is increasingly
precarious;

8. Calls, in any event, on the Council and Commission to suspend sanctions,
resume dialogue on a realistic and clearly-defined basis and support the
Haitian people by enhancing its system for the management of training,
education and health;

 9. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the Council,
the Commission and the Government of Haiti.



Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 22 March 2001 in
Libreville (Gabon)