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OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL TO EXAMINE SITUATION IN HAITI

  January 5, 2006

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) has convened a special meeting for tomorrow, January 6, to discuss the situation in Haiti in light of the postponement of elections. During the session, which will be private, representatives of the member states will examine the country’s current political situation and the factors that led Haitian authorities to delay the elections that had been scheduled for January 8.

“The OAS has a permanent interest in Haiti and a firm commitment to support the government in its efforts to strengthen democracy and consolidate its institutions,” said OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza. “In order to maintain that commitment and count on the support of the international community, it is essential that it be based on free and competitive elections, held within agreed timetables. Nobody would understand an indefinite postponement of the elections.”

“We have worked with the government, in cooperation with the United Nations, to lay the necessary foundation for a free and fair electoral process,” Insulza added. “This collaboration continues, and we believe the necessary technical conditions exist so that within a short period of time the Haitian people will be able to go to the polls to exercise their democratic franchise.”

During the past few months, the OAS has supported a massive registration drive conducted by Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), which led to the enrollment of more than 3.5 million citizens, or 80% of the eligible voting population.

Reference: E-001/06