EU Presidency Statement - Long-term support for Haiti

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of central and eastern Europe associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia), and the other associated countries (Cyprus and Malta), endorse this statement.

The European Union welcomes the Secretary-General's report on the elaboration and implementation of the long-term programme of support for Haiti. The report is a useful reference document in analyzing the political, social and economic situation in Haiti and assessing the efforts made by the international community to support Haiti. The European Union notes with particular interest the report's presentation of the activities of the United Nations system and is very pleased at the United Nations' efforts, in close cooperation with the Haitian authorities, to strengthen coordination between the various agencies, funds and programs involved. We feel that significant progress has been made.

Mr. President,

The European Union particularly welcomes the setting up of the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH) which the General Assembly decided on in Resolution 54/193 of 17 December 1999. The European Union naturally regrets the financial difficulties which have accompanied the launch of this mission. It would point out that it repeatedly expressed its preference for funding from the ordinary operating budget, in order to avoid the unpredictable factors which may always arise with the voluntary funding method. The European Union hopes that the various pillars of MICAH, in the police, justice and human rights sectors, will operate effectively in a coordinated manner. In this respect the European Union reiterates its support for the Secretary-General's efforts to help Haiti and the useful work being done by his representative on the spot.

Mr. President,

In connection with the recent elections, the European Union would like to give a reminder of the content of its declaration of 12 July 2000 and would point out that full compliance with the constitutional provisions concerning elections and with the electoral law in force has to be regarded as the cornerstone of the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law, as emphasized by both the OAS and CARICOM, organizations of which Haiti is a member. The European Union considers that the authorities' refusal to remedy the way in which the recent polling was conducted constitutes a serious breach of those basic rules. The European Union therefore fully endorses the comments made by the United Nations Secretary-General and the head of the OAS observer mission. The European Union might be compelled to reconsider its policy in Haiti, in particular in the field of development cooperation, should the democratic process be called into question. Under the Lomé Convention, this would imply application of the provisions of Article 366a, including partial or full suspension of aid.

Mr. President,

The European Union reiterates its willingness to cooperate closely with the OAS and CARICOM in order to help resolve this crisis. In this connection the European Union reaffirms the importance it attaches to effective cooperation with those two organizations.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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