ORIGIN AND BACKGROUND OF THE MISSION

On January 19 and 20, a high level delegation of members of the Core Group on Haiti, who have military troops in that country, and the OAS visited Haiti.

You may recall that at the beginning of this month several meetings among the international community, the United Nations and the Organization of American States were held to discuss the progress in the preparation for the scheduled Presidential and Legislative elections on January 8, 2006.

On January 6, 2006 the United Nations Security Council reiterated the need for elections in Haiti and noted with concern the postponement of the scheduled elections of 8 January 2006, and urged the Transitional Government of Haiti and the Provisional Electoral Council to announce new and definitive dates for the elections to be held no later than February 7, 2006.

On that same day, this august body met also to discuss the political situation in Haiti and, in the issued declaration of the Permanent Council, stated a similar urgency in setting a new election date no later than 7 February, 2006.

On January 8, the Haitian electoral authorities announced a new schedule for the Presidential and Legislative elections, with the first round of the elections to be held on February 7 and the second round on March 19. The inauguration of a newly and constitutionally elected President is scheduled for March 29, 2006. Municipal elections are programmed for 30 April, 2006.

As a result of the following discussions among members of the Core Group on Haiti, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and France and the Secretary of State of the United States of America, issued on January 11, 2006 a statement of support to the new calendar of elections, expressing its continued support to the electoral process.

In this statement, these members of the Core Group on Haiti also indicated the sending of a mission of senior officials to Haiti in the near future.

On January 16, 2006, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza attended a regional meeting in Buenos Aires (Argentina) of Ministers and Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the seven Latin American countries providing military troops to MINUSTAH. At that meeting, the upcoming elections and the future of their troops in Haiti were discussed.

COMPOSITION AND OBJECTIVE

Last weeks mission of Deputy Ministers and High Ranking Foreign Affairs officials from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, the United States of America, the United Nations and the OAS must be placed in the context of these developments and discussions among members of the international community.

The main objective of the Mission was to examine the current political and security situation in Haiti, express and reaffirm the Core Group’s firm commitment to the democratic process and for the established electoral calendar, and register its continued support in providing technical and logistical assistance in the preparation for the elections.

PROGRAMME AND KEY FINDINGS

The Mission met with the President Boniface Alexandre, Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, the Director General of the CEP, candidates for the Presidential elections and representatives of civil society.

Frank and open discussions were held with the Presidential candidates Mr. Evans Paul, Mr. Serge Gilles, Mr. Luc Mesadieu, Mr. Charles Baker, all belonging to the political alliance Entente Politique pour la Democratie et La Modernite, former President Mr. Rene Preval and the candidate for the Fanmi Lavalas, Mr. Marc Bazin.

In its discussions the Mission focused on the following areas of concern and attention:

1. the firm acceptance of the established electoral calendar, with a clear indication that another postponement would not be an option for the international community;

2. the role of political leaders in supporting a conducive environment for the elections, in terms of publicly denouncing all forms of violence, calling on their constituencies to collect their national identification cards as well as urging registered Haitians to vote on 7 February;

3. intensification of the communication and media campaign as key elements in the final stage of the preparation of the elections;

4. the need for peace, unity, inclusiveness, national dialogue and reconciliation in the post-electoral political environment as a condition for governability and social and economic reconstruction.

The Mission also expressed the view that the international community can only facilitate and support a process of democracy and stability in Haiti, but that ultimately it is the Haitians themselves who will have the responsibility and authority to decide how their democracy and governance can be strengthened. The Mission called for constructive engagement and dialogue among the political stakeholders.

The Presidential candidates, with one or two exceptions, expressed the need for the elections to be held on February 7, 2006 and their commitment to the electoral process.

The security challenges were presented as the most critical ones at this stage, as well as elements in the preparation of the logistics for the upcoming elections, especially the distance between the polling stations and the location of these voter centers. The CEP, supported by MINUSTAH and the OAS, are working on this issue in cooperation with the political parties.

Most of the candidates admitted in their assessment that security was not a concern in the rest of the country except for localized areas in Port au Prince, such as Cite Soleil and Bel Air.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes informed the mission that the security situation is improving, illustrated by the strong reduction in kidnappings and attacks. On Saturday 20 January, 2006, MINUSTAH held discussions with the newly appointed Commander of the MINUSTAH military troops, General Jose Elito Carvalho de Siquiera of Brazil, who arrived on the same day to assume his duties on 23 January.

During the meetings with the President and the Prime Minister, both officials, in no uncertain terms, stated their intention to honor the electoral calendar as established and support fully in any way possible the preparatory process. Both authorities recognized the challenges in terms of security and the organization of the elections, but noted also that the alternative would be worse and would create more insecurity, uncertainty and further damage the credibility of the electoral process.

President Alexandre informed the Mission that Cabinet Ministers will be traveling throughout the country to encourage Haitians to exercise their voting rights.
Both President Alexandre and Prime Minister Latortue took the opportunity to express their appreciation to the international community, the OAS Special Mission and MINUSTAH for their support over the past months and their commitment to the People of Haiti. Specific mention was made of the important role played by the Electoral Assistance Mission of the OAS in being able to register over 3.5 million voters, coordinating the production and ongoing distribution of the national identification cards. With 2.9 million cards distributed, card distribution now stands at almost 80%.

Both the President and the Prime Minister called on the Core Group members, the United Nations and the OAS to remain engaged and continue their support to the political and economic process in Haiti.

The Director General of the CEP, Jacques Bernard, confirmed that all the national identification cards are in Haiti and that all efforts are being made to provide opportunities for registered voters to collect their identification cards.

With respect to the national identification cards, the Director General noted the following:

1. The distribution of cards was a success.

2. The elections were postponed not only because of card distribution.

3. This was the first time in Haiti that 3.5 million people were registered for anything. Many Haitian citizens who never had a birth certificate now are proud holders of their cards with photo and finger prints. Before that 600,000 persons had no means of identification. Now many citizens can identify themselves, thanks to the OAS. Haitians will always remember this.

4. There are 165 centers still open where people can get their cards.
5. The government of Haiti will have the possibility of producing the cards in future.

6. After 20 January cards will be distributed in the BECs; 142 centers will be open and this process will continue after the first round.

On the issue of the voting centers, the CEP Director General confirmed that:

1. 75 centres have been modified – 35 annexes were created – 38 other centres were moved to areas nearer to the population.

2. A new system of vote tabulation will be tested next week.

3. Each voting station will be staffed with four persons. Throughout the country 37,000 officials will be involved on the day of elections.

4. 2,200 supervisors have been already trained and these supervisors will train the other polling station officers.

CLOSING REMARKS

The mission, supported by the members of the diplomatic corps in Haiti present, issued a statement at the closing of the visit. This statement has been distributed and fundamentally calls for the holding of the planned elections on Tuesday 7 February 2006.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Gerard Latortue he informed the delegation of the invitation he had received from the current Chairman of the Conference of the Caribbean Community, the Honorable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Prime Minister Latortue indicated that he would be visiting Trinidad and Tobago on 24 and 25 of January, which is today and tomorrow.

The announcement of the invitation and the immediate positive response of the Prime Minister to the CARICOM Chairman were received with enthusiasm by all the members of the Mission. Many expressed their good hopes that this initiative will result in a strengthening of the Caribbean Community’s engagement with developments in Haiti.

Washington DC
24 January 2006