E-012
January 20, 2000

OAS REITERATES SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN HAITI

The Organization of American States (OAS) will be sending an electoral observation mission to Haiti, where legislative, municipal and local government elections are scheduled for March 19. Secretary General César Gaviria made the announcement on Wednesday in a note he sent to the Chairman of the Permanent Council.

The Secretary General also stated that the OAS would extend its involvement in the activities of the joint OAS/United Nations International Civilian Mission in Haiti, until mid-March.

Mr. Gaviria recalled that since it was set up in 1993, the joint OAS/UN mission "has played a vital role in the observation and promotion of human rights and in strengthening democratic institutions engaged in human rights protection in Haiti." On that note, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador, Lionel Hurst, announced that his government would contribute an amount similar to what it gave last year to support the work of the International Civilian Mission.

Canada’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Peter Boehm, told the Permanent Council, meantime, that his government would be contributing Can$150,000 to the OAS Electoral Observation Mission. He also restated his country’s interest in firmly supporting the strengthening of Haiti’s democratic institutions. The amount announced by Ambassador Boehm brings to Can$1.5 million Canada’s contribution towards supporting the Haitian elections set for next March.

Finally, the Alternate Representative of Chile, Fernando Varela, told the meeting that his government had recently given US$15,000 to the OAS observation mission in question.

 

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