|
OEA/Ser.G
CP/RES. 861 (1400/04)
19 February 2004
Original: French |
CP/RES. 861 (1400/04)
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC
ORDER AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN HAITI
THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,
HAVING HEARD the remarks of the Permanent Representative of Haiti about the
events that have occurred since February 5, 2004, which have disrupted public
order in many regions of the country, in particular the city of Gonaïves, and
resulted in the loss of numerous human lives;
DEEPLY CONCERNED by the gravity of the current situation, the tenacity of the
political crisis, the enormous socioeconomic challenges, particularly extreme
poverty and its devastating effects on the Haitian people and the polarization
that characterizes the political situation in Haiti;
CONCERNED ALSO by the growing humanitarian crisis and the plight of the civilian
population affected by the current violence;
RECOGNIZING that violence and armed gangs constitute a major obstacle to
governability and progress toward a peaceful, negotiated, democratic, and
constitutional resolution to the political crisis in Haiti;
CONSIDERING that the Charter of the Organization of American States recognizes
that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability,
peace, and development of the region, and that one of the main purposes of the
OAS is to promote and consolidate it, with due respect for the principle of
nonintervention;
REAFFIRMING that the Inter-American Democratic Charter proclaims that "the
peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an
obligation to promote and defend it" and that "essential elements of
representative democracy include, inter alia, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, access to and the exercise of power in accordance with
the rule of law, the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on
secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty of
the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and
the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government";
REAFFIRMING the spirit of resolution AG/DEC. 31 (XXXIII-O/03), which states that
democratic governance requires the responsible participation of all social
actors in building the necessary consensus to strengthen its democracies;
REAFFIRMING the importance of resolutions CP/RES. 822 (1331/02), “Support for
Strengthening Democracy in Haiti”; CP/RES. 806 (1303/02) corr. 1, “The
Situation in Haiti”; and CP/RES. 786 (1267/01), “Support for Democracy in
Haiti”;
REAFFIRMING ALSO the importance of resolutions AG/RES. 1959 (XXXIII-O/03),
“Support for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti”; AG/RES. 1841 (XXXII-O/02), “The
Situation in Haiti”; and AG/RES. 1831 (XXXI-O/01), “Support for Democracy in
Haiti,” adopted by the General Assembly;
RECOGNIZING the important role of the OAS Special Mission for Strengthening
Democracy in Haiti; and
WELCOMING the important initiative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to help
to resolve the current crisis,
RESOLVES:
1. To condemn vehemently, and call for an immediate end
to, the violence in several regions of Haiti, to deplore the loss of lives and
physical damage which have resulted from the current crisis, and to condemn
criminal elements and activities that defy the rule of law and established
government institutions.
2. To express its support for constitutional order in
Haiti and its firm support to the CARICOM initiative aimed at promoting a
peaceful resolution of the situation in Haiti.
3. To call on all relevant Haitian actors to comply with
the confidence-building measures proposed in the CARICOM Prior Action Plan
produced at the meeting on Haiti in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 31,
2004, and which states, inter alia:
- Compliance with relevant OAS resolutions
- Need to negotiate rules for demonstrations
- Release of detainees
- Disarmament of armed gangs
- Establishment of a broad-based advisory council
- Appointment of a new government through the identification of a neutral and
independent Prime Minister who enjoys the public trust
- Implementation of the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society.
4. To express its firm support for the Government of the
President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in its efforts to restore public
order by constitutional means and to call upon it to fulfill all commitments
and adhere to the timeframes outlined in the CARICOM initiative, including
commitments arising from relevant resolutions of the OAS.
5. To call specifically on the democratic political
opposition and civil society to act responsibly, denounce the use of violence,
fulfill their responsibilities and engage in the democratic process in
accordance with the CARICOM proposal.
6. To call upon all parties involved in the current
crisis to ensure the full, safe, and unhindered access of humanitarian
personnel and assistance to all civilians who need it.
7. To call upon the Government of Haiti to respect the
rights, especially the human rights, of all citizens and residents of Haiti,
and to call upon all Haitians to respect the rule of law.
8. To call upon the Government to take all appropriate
measures to strengthen its support for the effective implementation of the
mandate of the OAS Special Mission.
9. To reiterate its firm support for the efforts of the
OAS Special Mission to contribute to strengthening Haiti’s democratic
institutions and to call on the member states and other members and
organizations of the international community to bolster the Special Mission’s
efforts, through the provision of financial and personnel support.
10. To request the OAS Special Mission to support the
CARICOM initiative in meeting its objectives and to instruct the Secretary
General to continue to cooperate with CARICOM in seeking a solution to the
crisis in Haiti.
11. To launch an appeal for international solidarity to
support the efforts of the Haitian Government and people to find a peaceful
resolution to the current crisis and to prevent a further deterioration of the
humanitarian and socioeconomic situation.
|