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ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL REAFFIRMS OAS SUPPORT FOR HAITI

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, assured the government of Haiti that the OAS will continue to support the country’s efforts to meet the many challenges that remain as it seeks to build stronger institutions.

Addressing the International Conference for the Economic and Social Development of Haiti, held in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, Ramdin said that with the elections held in Haiti earlier this year, “the basic, but very critical and important, conditions for democratic governability and for social and economic development have been created.”

“We are all aware that this is only a first, but necessary, step – and in many ways, the real challenge starts now in terms of maintaining an environment of peace, security and stability, of encouragement and constructive engagement, and of creating a climate that is conducive to social and economic development and the strengthening and modernization of the state,” the Assistant Secretary General added.

The people of Haiti have an expectation that the new administration will be able to bring about “visible change, measurable successes and concrete improvement in the short term, even as the government works to design a strategic and comprehensive plan that addresses the medium and long-term needs of the country,” said Ramdin, who represented Secretary General José Miguel Insulza at the conference.

Ramdin cited a number of encouraging developments, including President René Préval’s “policy of inclusion, dialogue and reconciliation among all sectors of Haitian society” and his emphasis on a strategic plan for the country that simultaneously addresses issues such as security, employment, health, education and national development. The international community’s strong international solidarity with and commitment to Haiti is also encouraging, the Assistant Secretary General said.

He reiterated the support expressed by the OAS General Assembly in June in a resolution entitled “Strengthening Democracy and Socioeconomic Development in Haiti.” This renewed the OAS commitment to support Haiti in such areas as strengthening electoral institutions, developing and maintaining a civil registry, providing training for political parties, helping to strengthen the judiciary and law enforcement agencies and fostering economic development.

During his trip to Haiti, Ramdin met with high-level government officials, including President Préval, Prime Minister Jacques Alexis and Foreign Minister Renald Clerisme. He also met with representatives of the United Nations and inter-American institutions such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), to discuss how to ensure more effective collaboration on the ground.

Reference: E-158/06