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OAS WELCOMES RELEASE OF YVON NEPTUNE

  March 28, 2006

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, today welcomed the release from prison of former Prime Minister of Haiti Yvon Neptune.

“This is a very positive development, as Mr. Neptune’s imprisonment has been an issue of concern to the member states for the past two years,” Ramdin said. “During every meeting with Haitian authorities, we conveyed our concern about his long pre-trial detention and asked for an immediate resolution to his case.”

Ambassador Ramdin, who attended the International Conference for the Economic and Social Development of Haiti, held in Port-au-Prince earlier this week, added that the release of the former Prime Minister “also demonstrates, in my view, an important signal of the current administration to deal effectively with the issue of pre-trial detention.”

“During the recent donor conference, the OAS reiterated its support to the Haitian authorities in their efforts to strengthen and modernize the judicial system,” Ramdin noted.

Last month, the OAS General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Strengthening Democracy and Socioeconomic Development in Haiti,” renewing 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.

Reference: E-161/06