THIRD REPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES TO HAITI
VISIT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL TO HAITI
February 6-10, 2001
C O N T E N T S
I. SUMMARY INTRODUCTION
II. THE OAS AND HAITI'S
ELECTIONS IN 2000
III. THE SEARCH FOR OPENINGS
IV. CONCLUSION: CREATING A NEW DYNAMIC BETWEEN HAITI AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II
APPENDIX III
APPENDIX IV
I. SUMMARY INTRODUCTION
This report is submitted following an oral report made by the Assistant
Secretary General to the Permanent Council on February 28, 2001. It covers the
February 6-10, 2001 visit which the Assistant Secretary General paid to Haiti on
the occasion of the assumption of office of President Jean Bertrand Aristide and
subsequent developments. Its purpose is to provide information that will be
useful to the Permanent Council in its consideration of the agenda item on Haiti
on March 14, 2001.
II. THE OAS AND HAITI'S
ELECTIONS IN 2000
The Elections of May 21, 2000
At a special meeting held on July 13, 2000, the Permanent Council noted with
concern the conclusions of the Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission
which observed the May 21, 2000 legislative, municipal and local elections held
in Haiti to resolve a political impasse which stemmed from flawed elections
three years earlier. That report had noted that the registration of voters was
successful, despite serious administrative and logistical problems and that on
election day the level of participation and the orderliness of the exercise were
notable achievements. However, major irregularities following the closure of the
polls seriously compromised the integrity and credibility of the election. One
of the most serious flaws highlighted by the Mission was that the method of
calculation of percentages of votes secured by certain senatorial candidates was
not in accordance with the Constitution and Electoral Law of Haiti. The Report
is contained in document CP/doc. 3383/00. After the May 21 elections, the
opposition parties within the Convergence Démocratique called for their
annulment and for new elections to be held under a new Provisional Electoral
Council, and asked that President Préval resign and that a provisional
government be installed. In addition, the President of the CEP, M. Léon Manus,
left the country after refusing to validate the final results and was replaced.
The OAS Mission to Haiti
By Resolution CP/RES.772 of August 4, 2000 the Secretary General was mandated to
"identify together with the Government of Haiti and other sectors of the
political community and civil society, options and recommendations for
resolving, as expeditiously as possible, difficulties such as those which have
arisen from differing interpretations of the electoral law, and for further
strengthening democracy in that country". In keeping with this resolution, the
Secretary General visited Haiti from 17-20 August 2000. The Assistant Secretary
General then visited Haiti from 15 to 16 September 2000, from 21-29 September
2000 and from 13 to 21 October 2000. The October visit, which led to
face-to-face dialogue for the first time between representatives of Fanmi
Lavalas and the Convergence Démocratique, was suspended on October 20, since
there had not been consensus broad enough to achieve the initial OAS objective,
namely the negotiation of a national accord among all parties that would resolve
the political crisis in a manner that would elicit the support of the
international community. Reports on these visits are contained in documents
CP/doc 3349/00 and 3371/00.
The Elections of November 26, 2000
In keeping with the timetable established by the Constitution of Haiti, but
without any correction of particular deficiencies identified in the May 21
elections, elections for President and nine Senators took place on November 26,
2000. The candidates for President were Jean Bertrand Aristide and six members
of lesser known Opposition parties and Independents. Continuing to call for the
annulment of the May 21 elections, the parties comprising the Convergence
Démocratique refused to participate in the November 26 elections which it
described as illegal. As was to be expected, M. Jean Bertrand Aristide emerged
winner of the Presidential elections. The official reporting by the Provisional
Electoral Council of a 60% voter turn-out was contested by the Opposition and by
some foreign groups present in Haiti on that occasion. Of note was the symbolic
presence of a small delegation representing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
headed by a former Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Sir John Compton.
The OAS did not observe the November 26 elections. In a Press Release issued on
November 27, the Organization indicated that the decision of the Haitian
authorities to proceed with the elections on November 26 despite the absence of
the national accord which the Organization had advocated, avoided an
interruption in the timetable for presidential succession established by the
Constitution of Haiti, but did not alter the need to ensure the broad political
representation and citizen participation critical to the development of Haitian
democracy. The OAS also indicated its readiness, in keeping with its Charter
obligations, to assist the government and the social and political forces of
Haiti in their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and to contribute
to an environment of peace and security in the country.
III. THE SEARCH FOR OPENINGS
Before the Assistant Secretary General had suspended the dialogue involving the
Fanmi Lavalas and the Convergence Démocratique on October 20, 2000, he had
distributed a Paper entitled "Elements of Reflection regarding the components of
a National Agreement" on which he had received comments both from the Fanmi
Lavalas and the Convergence Démocratique. That paper was broadly based and was
intended to cover a wide range of issues vital to the strengthening of democracy
in Haiti. Copy thereof is attached as Appendix I.
On November 9, 2000, the United Nations Secretary General recommended to the UN
General Assembly that in light of the political turmoil and instability in the
country, a renewal of the mandate of the UN International Civilian Support
Mission in Haiti (MICAH) was not advisable and recommended that the Mission be
terminated when its mandate drew to an end on February 6 2001.
Following a visit to Haiti by U.S. emissaries, President-elect Aristide
communicated with US President Clinton by a letter dated December 27, 2000 (copy
attached at Appendix II) which contained a list of eight commitments which Mr.
Aristide declared his intention to implement. Although OAS representatives did
not participate in these talks, the fifth commitment referred to: "Strengthen(ing)
democratic institutions and protection of human rights through the establishment
of a semi-permanent OAS commission to facilitate dialogue among Haitian
political, civic and business leaders and through international monitoring of
the protection of human rights." The OAS reiterated the bilateral nature of
these commitments to the Haitian authorities. The commitments were subsequently
presented to the OAS as a basis for attempts to resolve the political crisis, as
will be seen later in this report.
On January 4, 2001 President Préval wrote the Secretary General inviting him to
attend the February 7, 2001 ceremony marking the inauguration of President
Aristide. This was followed by a visit to OAS headquarters on January 12 by
Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis who met with the Assistant Secretary
General (and by a January 16 letter from Foreign Minister Longchamp to the
Assistant Secretary General inviting him to attend the assumption of office of
the President-elect on February 7).
The Prime Minister advised on initiatives taken since the October visit to Haiti
of the Assistant Secretary General, to include the appointment of a Commission
of Jurists (headed by Me. Gary Lissade) by the President-elect "to examine the
question of the May 21 elections." The Prime Minister also referred to the
letter of December 27, 2000 from the President-elect to the President of the
U.S.A. containing the set of eight commitments which the writer was disposed to
implement. The Prime Minister invited the OAS to send a mission to Haiti to
revitalize the dialogue which had been suspended the previous October, so as to
reach a consensus on the pending issues identified in the document entitled
"Elements of reflection regarding the Components of a National Agreement" which
was contained in CP/doc. 3371/00. The Prime Minister also raised the possibility
of financing for political parties and expressed the Government's wish to see
the establishment of an OAS Commission in Haiti to assist with
democracy-building in keeping with resolution 772.
Subsequently, in a letter to the Secretary General dated January 17, 2001,
President Préval referred to the visit of Prime Minister Alexis to the OAS,
expressed the conviction that "the OAS could usefully assist Haiti by
accompanying (the country) in its efforts to consolidate democratic institutions
and respect for human rights" and invited the Organization to begin discussions
to this end.
Later, on January 31, 2001, the Assistant Secretary General received, at their
request, a five-member delegation of members of the Convergence Démocratique who
stressed the fact-finding nature of their visit to Washington. The delegation
also explained that since in their view the November 26 elections were
constitutionally illegal, they intended to proceed with the plan which they had
announced in the context of a General Assembly (Etats Généraux) held in
Port-au-Prince on January 27, to ensure the transition process at the end of
President Préval's mandate on February 7 by appointing a Provisional Government.
On February 2, the Secretary General requested the Assistant Secretary General
to represent him on the occasion of the assumption of office of the new
President; to use his presence in Haiti to keep the lines of communication open
to all interested parties; and to assess whether conditions were met for the
Secretary General to recommend other measures which may be deemed necessary to
strengthen democracy in Haiti, in keeping with Resolution 772.
In this connection, some further detail on the dialogue initiative proposed by
members of the country's civil society is necessary to understand the context in
which the Assistant Secretary General arrived in Haiti in February 2001.
Civil Society Initiative
In mid-January 2001, leading members of the private sector and civil society
took an important initiative signaling increased willingness on their part to
participate in resolving the country's political difficulties. Their hope was to
conclude a political accord bridging the Eight point commitment (contained in
President-elect Aristide's December 27, 2000 letter to U.S. President Clinton)
and the Proposal of the Convergence Démocratique for the Formation of a
Provisional Government as the basis for negotiations. The immediate objective
was to rectify the problems associated with the elections of 2000 with a view to
restoring credibility to the electoral process and to prevent the crisis from
degenerating into further chaos and anarchy. Broader objectives were to protect
the integrity of the political institutions, encourage political pluralism,
promote democratic values and to create a climate conducive to investment and
economic development. It is to be noted that during the meetings which he held
with them in October, 2000 the Assistant Secretary General had proposed to his
civil society interlocutors that they engage in support of this kind of
dialogue. The participants in the dialogue were the principal protagonists -
Fanmi Lavalas and Convergence Démocratique, a Commission of Facilitation of the
Civil Society Initiative and the Representative of the OAS in Haiti, with the
latter two serving as facilitators.
The principal protagonists reached understanding on the process of the dialogue
in a Protocol which outlined, inter alia, the objectives of the dialogue and the
agenda for the negotiations. That Protocol was signed on February 3 by
representatives of Fanmi Lavalas and Convergence Démocratique in the presence of
their leaders, members of the Commission of Facilitation and the diplomatic
corps, at the Apostolic Nunciature. The dialogue began at Hotel El Rancho on
February 4, in the presence of national and international observers and
continued at the Apostolic Nunciature, in a climate of mutual mistrust regarding
the motives and intentions of both sides and apprehensions regarding the motives
of the principal facilitators.
The Fanmi Lavalas representatives tabled the 8 commitments expressed in the
December 27, 2000 letter from the incoming President of Haiti to the outgoing
President of the United States of America (and which, as previously indicated,
were confirmed subsequently by Prime Minister Alexis on January 12 and by the
Interim Representative of Haiti to the OAS during a Permanent Council meeting on
January 18, 2001). For their part, the Convergence Démocratique representatives
continued to insist on the annulment of the elections of May 21 and November 26,
and on broad powersharing arrangements for the Opposition in the government. The
Convergence Démocratique presented a 17-point document entitled "Proposed
Political Accord to End the Crisis and Strengthen Democracy" of which a copy is
attached at Appendix III. The dialogue initiative broke down in the wee hours of
the morning of February 6.
Meetings held over the period February 6-10, 2001
February 6
Against this unsettled background, the Assistant Secretary General arrived in
Haiti within hours of the breakdown of the civil society dialogue initiative on
February 6. He met on that day with President-elect Aristide and with leaders of
the civil society groups which had organized the dialogue initiative. In his
meeting with the Convergence Démocratique, a request was made for the OAS to
form part of "a security shield around the Haitian opposition". That very day,
the Convergence proclaimed Me. Gérard Gourgue "Provisional President of the
Government of Consensus and National Union, whose mission would be to organize
democratic elections in Haiti as soon as possible".
February 7 (Inaugural Events)
The Assistant Secretary General attended the swearing-in of President Aristide
in the Palais Legislatif; the Te Deum held at the Port-au-Prince cathedral
during which Msgr. Hubert Constant, Bishop of Fort Liberté and President of the
Episcopal Conference of Haiti, delivered a stirring homily outlining the ills
besetting the Haitian society which the Government of the new President had to
address; the cultural performances at the Presidential Palace, following which
President Aristide delivered a Message to the Nation in which he outlined his
development plans for stability and economic improvement, extended "an olive
branch to the Opposition" and committed to be "the President of all Haitians,
without exception." A copy of this statement was circulated to OAS member states
at the request of the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the OAS in document CP/INF.
4480/01.
The inaugural events provided an opportunity for wide contacts with foreign
representatives to the inauguration events, including those of CARICOM, whose
delegation was led by the Hon. Said Musa, Prime Minister of Belize and included
the Assistant Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat; special
representatives of OAS member states, with particular reference to those of
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama; a
delegation from Taiwan and with the former President of Venezuela, Carlos Andres
Perez.
A meeting was also held that evening with the Apostolic Nuncio (Msgr. Luigi
Bonazzi), the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince (Archbishop Serge Miot), the
President of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti (Msgr. Hubert Constant) and the
Representative of the U.N. Secretary General (Ambassador Alfredo Cabral).
February 8 -9
During this two-day period, the Assistant Secretary General attended a meeting
hosted by the Ambassador of France with the representatives of the United
Nations' Secretary General's Group of Friends of Haiti, the Ambassadors of
Argentina, Chile, France, Germany, Venezuela, and of the United States of
America, the Counsellor of the Embassy of Canada and the Representatives of the
United Nations Secretary General and of the United Nations Development Program.
He met with business leaders, with representatives of the civil society dialogue
initiative and with other concerned citizens. He had a working dinner with
leaders of the Convergence Démocratique who echoed their continuing scepticism
concerning the intentions of President Aristide and the Fanmi Lavalas party,
referred to growing incidents of violence against opposition sympathizers,
particularly in the countryside, and who expressed the view that widespread
repression would now be visited upon all those who opposed the party in power.
The Assistant Secretary General met with President Aristide and Ambassador
Joseph Philippe Antonio (whom the President introduced as the future Foreign
Minister). The President emphasized his personal desire for dialogue and his
determination to implement the 8 commitments, including the strengthening of
democratic institutions and protection of human rights through the creation of
an OAS commission to facilitate dialogue among Haitian political, civic and
business leaders. The President gave some indications as to the persons to be
appointed Prime Minister (Jean Marie Chérestal) and Inspector General of the
Police.
February 10
Before his departure, the Assistant Secretary General attended a meeting hosted
by the Ambassador of Argentina with the representatives of the United Nations'
Secretary General's Group of Friends of Haiti. Concern was expressed that the UN
International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH) had officially come to
an end and that the Secretary General's Representative had departed on February
8.
Some developments since February 10, 2001
In New York, USA
On February 12, 2001 the United Nations Security Council issued a statement
taking note of the end of the mandate of MICAH and calling upon the agencies,
funds and programmes of the United Nations, particularly the UNDP to continue to
work in close collaboration with the Haitian authorities in order to restructure
the police and the justice system and strenghthen human rights. The Security
Council also "encouraged the OAS, and particularly its Secretary General, to
continue to identify options and recommendations aimed at resolving the current
political situation".
In Bridgetown, Barbados
On February 16, 2001 President Aristide addressed the XII Intersessional Meeting
of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Barbados. He assured
the Heads of his desire to dialogue with the Opposition in finding a solution to
the crisis, of his intention to move towards an open broad-based government to
best serve the needs and interests of all Haitians and of his support for the
commitments made by his predecessor in a communication to the then Chairman of
the CARICOM Conference, confirming the terms and conditions of Haiti's accession
to full membership of CARICOM. He acknowledged, significantly, that "Haiti must
pass through negotiations to dissipate the political tensions and trigger the
release of international funds which can put in motion our economic policy
outlined on February 7 ".
In Washington, D.C., USA
The OAS has continued to consult widely on the current Haitian situation both
within Haiti and beyond, to include Brazil, Canada, the United States, Uruguay,
France, CARICOM, the European Union and the United Nations. An informal meeting
with representatives of the UN Secretary General's Group of Friends of Haiti and
others, including CARICOM, as well as the Haitian Permanent Mission to the OAS,
was held at OAS Headquarters on February 21.
In Haiti
The new Aristide government has moved from words to action on several matters
central to the political crisis. On the basis of the report of the Lissade
Commission (whose Chair had conveyed to the Assistant Secretary General in
February that the Commission had relied heavily on the OAS Electoral Observation
Mission Report on the May 21, 2000 Elections) the "voluntary withdrawal of five
contested senators of the Fanmi Lavalas party and one independent senator from
participation in the work of the Senate in order to facilitate a solution to the
crisis" was announced in mid-February.
The entire membership of the CEP has tendered its resignation and a new CEP has
been appointed. It is regrettable that these appointments appear to have been
made without effective consultation with the Convergence Démocratique. Clearly,
the significance of this move will be determined by the degree of consultation
and participation achieved in such matters as the timing and modalities of
anticipated elections, if any.
Prime Minister Chérestal was confirmed by Haiti's Parliament on March 1. The
Prime Minister's Cabinet (a list provided by the Permanent Mission of Haiti to
the OAS is attached at Appendix IV), which includes persons who are not members
of Fanmi Lavalas, was installed on March 2. It is noted that the installation
ceremony was attended by only one of the Heads of Mission of the U.N Secretary
General's Group of Friends resident in Haiti, with the others being represented
by junior diplomatic officers.
There have been renewed attempts by civil society to resume the dialogue between
Fanmi Lavalas and Convergence Démocratique.
On February 27, President Aristide indicated to the Assistant Secretary General
that Foreign Minister Antonio would attend the Permanent Council meeting
scheduled for March 14, 2001 to address the Council concerning the possibility
of establishing a special OAS commission to support democracy in Haiti.
IV. CONCLUSION: CREATING A NEW DYNAMIC BETWEEN HAITI AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
Haiti has taken certain definite steps but much more remains to be done. The
steps taken thus far fall short of assuring the strengthening of democracy in
Haiti.
As reported by the Assistant Secretary General in November 2000, the
international community could make important contributions in response to
Haitian efforts to strengthen democracy. Four broad categories of non-economic
issues lend themselves to possible support from the OAS. Those issues are
dialogue, institutional support, security and strengthening democracy and human
rights.
Should an OAS Commission be established, as requested by the Government of Haiti
it would be prudent to focus, at least initially, on fresh steps related to
political dialogue, perhaps using a format similar to the Dialogue Procedure in
Peru involving the government, opposition and civil society, with OAS observers.
Should the dialogue begin to bear fruit, the OAS would require the collaboration
in critical areas of the United Nations, of the International Financial
Institutions and of individual members of the international community.
The General Secretariat expects that the Haitian authorities will shortly define
their plans in response to the views and recommendations expressed by the
Organization of American States and the international community and indicate how
the Organization of American States could be of assistance to the country in
attaining the goal of strengthening democracy under these new circumstances.
For such efforts to succeed, the support and participation of all concerned,
within Haiti as well as outside of Haiti, will be essential.
APPENDIX I
ORIGINAL: FRENCH
Reflections regarding the Components of a National Agreement
Main points compiled by the OAS from the discussions among Haitians,
in accordance with the mandate to formulate options and recommendations
contained in Permanent Council resolution CP/RES.772 of August 4, 2000
1. Security:
· The Executive shall ensure the professional conduct of the police, which is to
provide protection for the elections and electoral activities and avoid all
partisan activity.
· The political parties shall contribute to the climate of security by
cultivating tolerance, peace, and mutual respect.
· The political parties pledge to refrain from inciting violence and to take
measures among their supporters if they resort to violence.
· The Executive shall establish a mechanism for allowing the political parties
to cooperate in helping the police to maintain their neutrality.
2. The issues surrounding the May 21, 2000, elections:
· The political parties are responsible for respecting the will of the voters.
They must find a legally defensible political solution to the disputes resulting
from the May 21 elections, in particular, the contested Senate seats.
· To find a technical solution, an evaluation committee could be set up to
examine the May 21 elections. This committee would examine the challenges and
problems resulting from different interpretations of the electoral law. The
committee would submit its conclusions as soon as possible to the signatories to
the national agreement.
· This mandate could be given to the re-established CEP (see section No. 4).
3. Conditions for the elections scheduled for November 26:
· The election for the Presidency and the Senate must be governed by a
re-established CEP (see section No. 4).
· The election date could be postponed to beyond November 26 but must guarantee
that a new president will take office on February 7, 2001.
· The parties shall encourage the nomination and registration of candidates,
while at the same time avoiding acts contrary to the holding of free, legitimate
elections.
· Observers shall have complete access to the CEP and to the polling stations.
· The Executive shall provide protection for the elections (see section No. 1:
Security), and pledges to refrain from using public funds and resources for
partisan purposes.
· All parties shall have equitable access to the media, including the government
media.
4. Restructuring of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP):
· The CEP shall be composed of representatives of the political parties and of
civil society.
· The operational section of the CEP must be changed sufficiently to ensure its
neutrality.
· The CEP must have the funds required for holding elections and managing them
in a transparent fashion.
· The CEP shall help to fund the electoral activities of recognized political
parties that are presenting candidates for election.
· The CEP shall have the power to rule on challenges; its rulings may not be
appealed.
5. Measures for strengthening democracy:
· Freedom of information, including education, freedom of the press, and the
safety of journalists are prerequisites for a functioning democracy.
· The rights and the security of political parties, their leaders, and their
supporters must be explicitly recognized under the law.
· The important role played by civil society organizations in participatory
democracy must be explicitly recognized under the law.
· All parties pledge to respect government institutions and to work toward their
modernization by making use of the assistance that may be received through
international organizations.
· The committee mentioned in section No. 2 above could have a second mandate,
namely, to examine also the new presidential elections and the senatorial
elections of 2000 and to recommend reforms and improvements in all aspects of
the electoral process. The committee shall submit a report in one year so as to
implement the reforms prior to the next senatorial elections scheduled for 2002.
· A national committee could be established (which could be made up of
representatives of political parties, civil society, the Executive, and the
Court of Cassation), as a meeting point for the different sectors of the Haitian
nation. The national committee will also be the privileged spokesman for the
international community and, in particular, the special OAS mission (see section
No. 6 below).
6. The international community:
· In the case of a national agreement, the international community shall
examine, sympathetically and rigorously, its ability to work with Haiti.
· As the points contained in the national agreement are implemented and in
response to the proposals made by the signatories to this agreement, the
international community might consider such actions as the following:
§ Establish a special OAS support mission for democracy in Haiti. This mission
would monitor the implementation of this agreement and could receive challenges
and allegations of violations.
§ Consider an invitation to provide technical assistance to the electoral
process, in particular, with regard to the functioning of the polling stations.
§ The international community could send international observers who would have
full access to the CEP and to the polling stations.
§ The CEP could receive direct support from the international community.
This document is respectfully presented as a possible starting point for a
national agreement that would allow Haiti and the international community to
continue to make progress together.
Luigi R. Einaudi
Assistant Secretary General
Port-au-Prince
October 19, 2000
APPENDIX II
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APPENDIX III
CONVERGENCE DEMOCRATIQUE
PROPOSED POLITICAL ACCORD TO END THE CRISIS
AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY
Having seen the political and institutional crisis stemming from the elections
in 2000;
Considering that the polarization of society threatens to push the country over
the edge into violence as of February 7, 2001;
Aware of the gravity of the situation and the immeasurable cost the country
would pay if the two parties, for lack of pragmatism, were unable to reconcile
their individual interests for the collective good;
Understanding, after analyzing the facts and considering the political
circumstances, that neither of the two parties can prevail without jeopardizing
the country's precarious social and political stability and without losing the
support of the international community, which has become indispensable;
Taking into account that the initial proposals of the two parties for ending the
crisis are irreconcilable, and that it is important to find an acceptable
compromise for the good of the Haitian people and that of the two parties; and
Considering that this historic compromise should not only permit the parties to
resolve the political and institutional crisis but also pave the way for the
establishment of democracy and the rule of law, political and social stability,
national reconciliation, governance, and economic development in Haiti,
Fanmi Lavalas and Convergence Démocratique, the two main parties to the
negotiations sponsored by the Civil Society Facilitating Committee and the OAS,
after numerous discussions, have agreed as follows:
1. The establishment of a government of consensus and national unity (Fanmi
Lavalas - Convergence Démocratique - Civil Society) for a period of two years,
as follows:
a. A three-member presidential council, including Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
for a term beginning on February 7, 2001, and concluding on February 7, 2003,
which will be sworn in by the Supreme Court.
b. A prime minister from Convergence Démocratique.
c. The prime minister chooses the ministers, in consultation with the
presidential council of the Republic.
d. The directors general of the ministries will be chosen by the ministers.
e. The departmental delegates and vice delegates will be chosen by agreement
between the presidential council and the prime minister.
2. The state can operate for a period of two years on the basis of decrees
adopted by the Council of Ministers and by executive order.
3. A budget authorized and adopted by the Council of Ministers.
4. The formation of an advisory council to monitor the government and provide a
balance of power, composed of representatives of civil society and of parties
that participated in the elections of 2000.
5. The administration of the territorial communities
a. The municipal transition committees (Fanmi Lavalas - Convergence Démocratique
- Civil Society) will remain in office until the next election.
b. The CASEC transition committees (Fanmi Lavalas - Convergence Démocratique -
Civil Society) will remain in office until the next election.
c. The activities of the ASECs and the municipal delegates will be suspended
until the next election.
6. The ambasssadors and the consuls general will be chosen by agreement between
the presidential council and the prime minister.
7. The directors general of autonomous organizations and the administrative
councils will be chosen by agreement between the presidential council and the
prime minister.
8. The formation of an independent electoral institution
a. A new, independent Provisional Electoral Council formed by consensus.
b. Independent BEDs, BECs, BIs, and BVs, formed by consensus.
c. Efforts to secure assistance for the CEP from the international community.
9. The organization of new elections
a. For territorial elections, within a year or less.
b. For legislative and presidential elections, within two years.
10. The National Police
a. The Director General, Commander-in-Chief, and Inspector General of Police
will be chosen by agreement between the presidential council and the prime
minister.
b. International support to the Haitian National Police (PNH) in their
professionalization and their public security functions.
11. Promotion and observance of human rights
a. Foster the observance of human rights, helping Haitian human rights
organizations to perform their monitoring and recommendation functions.
b. Strengthen the effectiveness of the Citizen Protection Office.
c. Open an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and
of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
12. Institution-building assistance for political parties
a. Establish rules to govern political party financing.
b. Guarantee the security of political parties so they may firmly establish
themselves.
13. National assemblies, to be held within a year or less, for the purpose of
arriving at a national pact, the "Bicentennial Pact," the conclusions of which
shall be binding. The efforts of these assemblies will center on:
a. Ways, means, and activities to ensure pluralism, alternation, political
stability, and governance in the country.
b. Ways, means, and activities to ensure that the social and economic situation
is addressed and to arrest environmental degradation.
14. Resumption of dialogue with providers of bilateral and multilateral funds to
secure financial support during the interim period and to free available funds
as expeditiously as possible.
15. Negotiate, with interested countries, a convention on the immigration of
Haitians, taking into account the interests of the immigrants and of their host
countries.
16. Negotiate, with interested countries, conventions on the fight against drug
trafficking and the laundering of assets, and ensure their effective
application.
17. The formation of a group to monitor the application of the Fanmi Lavalas -
Convergence Démocratique Accord. This group, composed of representatives of
civil society, the UN, and the OAS, will be charged with monitoring application
of the Accord in keeping with objectively verifiable indicators (IOV).
APPENDIX IV
Composition of the Aristide-Chérestal Government
President of the Republic H.E. Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Prime Minister H.E. Jean Marie Chérestal
Ministers:
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship H.E. Joseph Philippe Antonio
Minister of Haitians Residing Abroad Mr. Leslie Voltaire
Minister of the Economy and Finance Mr. Faubert Gustave
Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Mr. Marc Louis Bazin
Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Stanley Théard
Minister of National Education Mr. Gaston Georges Mérisier
Minister of Justice Mr. Gary Lissade
Minister of Culture and Communications Mr. Guy Paul
Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Mr. Sébastien Hilaire
Minister of Public Works, Transport and
Communications Mr. Ernst Laraque
Minister of Public Administration Mr. Webster Pierre
Minister of the Interior and Local Government Mr. Henri-Claude Ménard
Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Eudes St. Preux Craan
Minister of Tourism Mrs. Martine Deverson
Minister of Women's Affairs Mrs. Ginette Rivière Lubin
Minister of Public Health and Community
Development Dr. Claude Voltaire
Secretaries of State
Secretary of State for Literacy Mrs. Maryse Guiteau
Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Mr. Hermann Nau
Secretary of State for Finance Mr. Jocelerme Privert