(E-127/01) June 11, 2001 VISIT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL TO HAITI Following the adoption of a resolution on "Support for Democracy in Haiti," by the XXXI Regular Session of the General Assembly in Costa Rica and a meeting of member states, permanent observers and relevant inter-american agencies, convened by Secretary General C�sar Gaviria, the Secretary General has today requested Assistant Secretary General Luigi R. Einaudi, to visit Haiti from June 13 to 15, 2001. The purpose of the Assistant Secretary General’s visit will be to clarify positions and explore options for international cooperation, bearing in mind, inter alia, commitments contained in President Aristide’s letter to the president of the Thirty-first Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly and the response by the General Assembly to those commitments. The General Assembly resolution considered the establishment of a "credible, independent and neutral Provisional Electoral Council" by June 25, 2001 a "necessary step to create a climate of confidence conducive to a broad based agreement among the Government of Haiti, political parties and civil society, and other relevant institutions of Haitian society, with a view of resolving the political crisis and strengthening democracy and respect for human rights in Haiti." To this end, the Assembly instructed the Secretary General "to work jointly with member states towards normalizing relations between Haiti and the international community, including the international financial institutions, as progress is achieved in reaching a sustainable solution to the crisis arising from the 21 May elections." The visit of the Assistant Secretary General follows on the May 29 to 31 Joint OAS/CARICOM Mission to Haiti led by the Secretary General Gaviria and former Dominican Prime Minister, Dame Eugenia Charles.   **********