8651: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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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