CP/RES. 786 (1267/01)

SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN 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;

        RECALLING resolution CP/RES. 772 (1247/00) of August 4, 2000 in which the Council, at the request of the Government of Haiti, authorized the Secretary General to lead a Mission to Haiti 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";

        TAKING NOTE of the reports to the Council by the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General on their visits to Haiti during the period August 16, 2000 to February 10, 2001, and of the Mission's reports contained in CP/doc. 3349/00 of August 24, 2000, CP/doc.3371/00 of 9 November 2000, and CP/doc.3419/01 corr. 2, March 13, 2001;

        HAVING HEARD the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti, His Excellency Joseph Philippe Antonio, at the Permanent Council meeting held on March 14, 2001, in which he made a presentation on the policy of the new government in the context of a "search for a consensual solution of the crisis stemming from the elections of May 21, 2000", including the establishment of a new electoral calendar; and

        RECOGNIZING the concern of the international community, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the European Union and the United Nations Secretary-General's Group of Friends for Haiti, for the strengthening of democracy in Haiti,

RESOLVES:

        1.     To express the conviction that the resolution of the crisis arising from the Haitian elections of May 21, 2000 is essential to the strengthening of democracy and respect for human rights in Haiti.

        2.     To request the Secretary General to undertake the necessary consultations with the Government of Haiti and other sectors of the political community and civil society, bearing in mind the statement by the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, on the potential for a dialogue to resolve the crisis arising from the elections of May 21, 2000 and the strengthening of democracy and respect for human rights in Haiti.

        3.     To instruct the Secretary General to present to the Permanent Council, no later than 2 May 2001, a report on his consultations, and, as appropriate, to propose other measures that could contribute to the strengthening of the democratic process in Haiti.

        4.     To transmit this resolution to the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Presidency of the European Union.

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