UN efforts give 'exemplary illustration of diplomacy of democratization,' says Secretary-General: Rene Preval wins presidential elections.

Rene Preval, a close ally and supporter of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and Prime Minister in his Government in 1991, had won the 17 December presidential elections in Haiti and took office on 7 February 1996.

According to a UN spokesperson, Mr. Preval had received 87.9 per cent and his runner-up only 2.5 per cent of the popular vote, while some 28 per cent of the registered voters had taken part in the elections.

On 6 November, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali had reported (S/1995/922) a "clear victory" of the Lavalas platform--a political movement associated with President Aristide--in the legislative and local elections. The Lavalas had won 17 of 27 seats in the Senate and 66 of 83 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, as well as 102 of 133 mayorships and 345 of 562 Conseils d'administration de sections communales.

"While those parties that boycotted the elections claimed credit for the low voter turnout, it could in fact have resulted from factors such as the lack of civic education, fatigue, low-key campaigning and preoccupation with economic issues", the Secretary-General said. Overall, the elections had been carried out in an "environment free of fear, violence and intimidation", he stressed.

On 15 October, in addressing a ceremony in Port-au-Prince to celebrate the first anniversary of President Aristide's return to power, the Secretary-General declared: "I see the work done in Haiti as an exemplary illustration of that diplomacy of democratization of which I am an ever more ardent advocate, and which today constitutes one of the basic objectives to be adopted by the international community."

Democratization was a "difficult undertaking", requiring the "awakening of the civic conscience", and the "culture of democracy must take increasingly deeper root within the country", he stated.

`Crucial step'

The Security Council on 16 November, in commending the Government of Haiti for holding local and legislative elections in a "peaceful and non-violent environment", stressed that "continued engagement and commitment" of all Haitian parties was necessary to the successful organization of "free, fair and peaceful presidential elections".

In a statement by its President, Salim Bin Mohammed Al-Khussaiby of Oman, the Council also declared that the holding of those elections on schedule was a "crucial step in consolidating long-lasting democracy in Haiti and ensuring a smooth transition of government", and called on all political parties in the country to participate.

The UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) was commended on the substantial progress in fulfilling its mandate, as set out in resolution 940 (1994), to assist Haiti in: sustaining a secure and stable environment; protecting international personnel and key installations; establishing the conditions for holding elections; and creating a new professional police force.

The role of UNMIH and the Joint UN/Organization of American States International Civilian Mission (MICIVIH) in assisting the Haitian authorities with the electoral process was also noted with satisfaction.

Also, in expressing concern over "recent instances of violence" in Haiti, the Council urged "respect for the rule of law, national reconciliation and cooperation".

The Council underlined its firm support for the progress the country had already made, and emphasized that the Haitian Government and people bore the "primary responsibility for Haiti's political, economic and social reconstruction".

It shared the Secretary-General's view that the establishment of a professional police force capable of maintaining law and order throughout the country was "central to Haiti's long-term stability". In that regard, attention should be focused on the "selection and training of the Haitian National Police supervisors and on interested Member States providing the police force with the necessary equipment", the Council stated.

Assembly action

The General Assembly, by its two resolutions related to the democracy and human rights situation in Haiti, hailed the "satisfactory evolution of the political process" in that country (50/196), and paid tribute to its people in their "ongoing quest for strong and lasting democracy, justice and economic prosperity" (50/86).