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AG/DEC. 19 (XXVIII-O/98)

DECLARATION ON GUYANA

(Declaration adopted at the fifth plenary session, held on June 3, 1998)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

AWARE that the December 1997 general and regional elections in Guyana were free and fair, as attested to by the report of the OAS Observer Mission;

AWARE that the main opposition party in Guyana refused to accept the results of these elections declared by the Elections Commission;

AWARE that, following opposition demonstrations, which resulted in violence against citizens in the capital city Georgetown, an agreement brokered by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) between the Government and the main opposition party decided on, among other measures, an independent audit of the elections, to the results of which both parties agreed to abide;

AWARE that, the results of the audit were delivered to the political parties on June 2, 1998, in Georgetown, Guyana, by the Chairman of CARICOM; and

AWARE that a state of tension exists among the citizens of Guyana in the wake of the delivery of the results of the said audit,

NOW, THEREFORE,

URGES all political parties in Guyana to accept the unequivocal results of the audit.

CALLS on all Guyanese to respect and obey the rule of law.

SUPPORTS the maintenance of the rule of law by the appropriate Guyanese authorities and institutions.

URGES all political parties and social forces to work in cooperation for the continued political, social, and economic development of Guyana.

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