WASHINGTON, DC – Political stability, elections, and international cooperation in Haiti took center stage at the Organization of American States (OAS) Group of Friends of Haiti that met at OAS headquarters to review recent activities, as well as the country’s overall political and economic situation and the international community’s renewed commitment of support for this Caribbean country.
OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, Chair of the Group, provided extensive information on the current situation in Haiti and highlighted the progress achieved in the implementation of the Inter-American Program for Haiti. As part of this new initiative, five inter-American institutions including the OAS, IICA, PAHO, PADF, and IDB will be launching an electronic platform for the exchange of information. “This is the first structured collaboration among all the inter-American agencies providing support to that country. We expect that this will strengthen existing synergies and provide greater value added to the government and people of Haiti”, said Ramdin.
The Permanent Representative of Haiti to the OAS, Ambassador Duly Brutus, who provided information on the political situation in Haiti, noted that “In light of constitutional provisions, a change of government may soon occur as the Senate summoned the Prime Minister to appear on October 29, 2009”. In this regard, Ambassador Ramdin, as Chair of the Haiti Group of Friends, during the meeting expressed the need for all to continue supporting the process of political stability and to support the demonstrated renewed interest of the international financial and business community to invest in Haiti. He also indicated that the OAS will continue monitoring the political developments as they unfold in Haiti.
Ambassador Ramdin informed the group that the OAS recently completed a needs assessment mission to Haiti to determine how best the Organization may assist Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in organizing the 2010 legislative and presidential elections. The OAS has accompanied elections in Haiti for the last 20 years.
In this regard, OAS member States gathered at the meeting of the Group of Friends expressed the importance of maintaining political stability in Haiti and the need to continue promoting cooperation strategies that may contribute to the needs and priorities defined by Haitian authorities.
The Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, Ambassador Gustavo Albin, confirmed that his government will host a Hemispheric Conference on Coordination of International Cooperation in Mexico city, on November 4 -5. He stressed that this meeting, organized in concert with the Government of Haiti and the OAS, will add value to the efforts to coordinate cooperation with Haiti.
Likewise, the delegation of Argentina announced that the Second meeting of Latin American coordination for Police cooperation with Haiti is scheduled to take place in Argentina at the end of November.
