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(E-100/01)
May 9, 2001

 JOINT OAS/CARICOM INITIATIVE ON HAITI 

Yesterday, Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, the current Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria agreed to join efforts of the OAS and CARICOM on Haiti into a Joint Mission to be led by Gaviria and former Dominican Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles.

A joint exploratory mission headed by the OAS and CARICOM Assistant Secretaries General, Luigi Einaudi and Albert Ramdin respectively, is to arrive in Port au Prince the morning of Thursday May 10. Ambassadors Einaudi and Ramdin will be accompanied by advisors from the Carter Center.

The formation of this Joint Mission is a direct response to the request articulated by Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada in speaking at the closing of the III Summit of the Americas in Quebec City.

The joint nature of this Mission is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the hemispheric community to accompany Haiti in its efforts to resolve its political and economic problems.

The exploratory mission will meet with President Aristide, with representatives of political parties and civil society, with other local leaders and with representatives of the international community in Haiti. 

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