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OAS REPORTS PROGRESS IN VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS IN HAITI

The latest Organization of American States (OAS) status report on the situation in Haiti highlights progress in preparing for elections this year, with the announcement that OAS and UN technical experts are working with Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), which has set voter registration to begin in April.

Acting Secretary General Luigi Einaudi told the Permanent Council at its regular sitting Wednesday that Elizabeth Spehar, former coordinator of the OAS Unit for the Promotion of Democracy, has been on the ground in Haiti for several weeks now leading the OAS technical election team. He said Spehar has already sent in an “extensive report” that notes the Electoral Assistance Program is “moving ahead remarkably well” and that a wide range of Haitian political parties are gearing up their campaigns. Ambassador Einaudi condemned recent attacks on the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council and called for calm and for respect of the electoral process as it is vital to the interests of all Haitians. Einaudi said the OAS is proud of its emphasis on non-violence and its political approach to conflict resolution.

Ambassador Denneth Modeste, the Secretary General’s Special Representative in Haiti, updated the Permanent Council on continued efforts by the OAS’ Special Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti working in close collaboration with the interim government and with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) on a number of important matters, including justice, human rights and professionalization of the Haitian police. He reported that the security situation was marred by violence, which he attributed to former military members, gangs in the service of political operatives, drug dealers and common criminals.

Modeste stated that much of the recent violence was aimed at frustrating the electoral process, which he said is vital to stability in Haiti. He added that “an appreciable improvement” on the political and economic fronts was also necessary and reported encouraging developments emerging from a recent meeting in Cayenne, French Guiana, which France had coordinated. The rapid implementation of the 380 specific infrastructural projects such as road, school and health centre construction agreed to there would “make a tremendous difference” to living conditions for the Haitian people.

Haiti’s Ambassador Duly Brutus outlined the interim government’s latest efforts to address the major political and security concerns. Several Ambassadors from North and South America as well as the Caribbean suggested a need for renewed OAS efforts in support of both human rights and the rule of law. Council Chair Manuel María Cáceres , the Permanent Representative of Paraguay, spoke for many in welcoming the visit of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights to Haiti, and expressed the hope that consultations among the Group of Friends could be held soon.

Reference: E-059/05