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AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES, H.E. ROGER NORIEGA
ON THE REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SECURITY OF HAITI CONCERNING EVENTS OF DECEMBER 17, 2001

October 9, 2002 - Washington, DC


PERMANENT COUNCIL MEETING


(Document CP/doc.3649/02)


· We note the GOH issued on September 12 a preliminary report on actions taken with respect to the violence of December 17, 2001 and subsequent days.

· While we understand that this is an interim report, it contains only generalities or descriptions of actions taken in the past. It can not be considered as fulfilling the requirements of Resolution 822.

· This view was echoed by the head of the OAS Special Mission, who described the report as incomplete at an October 3 press conference in Port-au-Prince.

· We hope and expect that the GOH will issue a detailed final report in the very near future. We would welcome clarification from Ambassador Valcin as to when he believes the Ministry of Justice will publish the full report.

· We would expect that the final report:

-- will offer specific information regarding efforts to apprehend suspects in the December 17 violence who remain at large;

-- will describe progress in bringing to trial the ten persons indicted September 18 in the Brignol Lindor case;

-- will show some progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the killing of Jean Dominique;

-- will offer an accurate accounting of reparations paid to date for victims of the December 17 violence and state clearly the criteria being applied for payments.

· A more comprehensive and thorough report, describing concrete measures taken in compliance with the relevant OAS resolutions, is absolutely essential to the Organization’s mandate to strengthen democracy in Haiti.