DISPATCH OF AN OAS MISSION TO HAITI 

THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,

BEARING IN MIND:

That the Preamble of the OAS Charter establishes that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace, and development of the region; and

That, according to the Charter, one of the essential aims of the Organization is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention;

NOTING the determination of Haiti to create a society characterized by the rule of law and by respect for human dignity and democratic institutions;

NOTING WITH CONCERN the conclusions of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti, presented in its report to the Permanent Council at the special meeting held on July 13, 2000;

BEARING IN MIND the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti at that meeting of July 13, 2000;

BEARING IN MIND ALSO the statement made by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the special meeting of August 4, 2000;

RECALLING the commitment of the OAS to continue its contributions to the strengthening of democracy in Haiti, including the resolution of problems identified in the report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti;

CONCERNED that different interpretations of the Electoral Law to determine the elected members of the Senate, as well as other deficiencies identified in the OAS Electoral Observation Mission report, could jeopardize the continuing implementation of the electoral process; and

RECOGNIZING the interest of the international community, including the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary-General, in assisting Haiti in its endeavors to strengthen democratic institutions,

RESOLVES:

1. To accept the invitation of the Government of Haiti and to promptly send to Haiti a mission led by the Secretary General, on which the Group of Friends of the United Nations Secretary-General shall be represented, 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 that have arisen from differing interpretations of the Electoral Law, and for further strengthening democracy in that country.

2. To instruct the Mission to keep the OAS Permanent Council or the Ministers of Foreign Affairs informed, as appropriate, on the development and results of its efforts.

3. To transmit this resolution to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.