a10: OAS Chief Condemns Violence in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

Dec 17 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Organization of American States
(OAS) Cesar Gaviria Monday strongly condemned violence in Haiti, a country
that saw a coup attempt early in the morning, and called on Haitians to
avoid mutual aggressions.
   Gaviria said that with the efforts of OAS Deputy Secretary-General Luigi
Einaudi, who returned from the tiny Caribbean country last week, it has
been possible for Haitian authorities to see the need to reach an agreement
between the ruling Famille Lavalas Party and the opposition coalition
Democratic Convergence, with the mediation of the OAS.
   He said Aristide has guaranteed the OAS that this agreement overcomes
problems stemming from the alleged irregularities in the May 2000
elections.
   The OAS chief reiterated the importance of respect to law and reiterated
the support of the Washington-based Pan-American organization for the
Haitian democratic process.
   He also underscored that the people and government in Haiti, the poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere, must reach a political solution to
stabilize the nation and facilitate, with pacific means, social and
economic development.