Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, has welcomed Thursday the work of the verification mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) to evaluate the presidential election held November 28, 2010 in Haiti. "I consider this an important step to maintain and strengthen the confidence of the Haitian people in the electoral process. I wish to commend the Haitian authorities which cooperated with the OAS Mission and facilitated its work"

She said hoping that the findings of the mission will "be fully taken into account by the Haitian authorities and to be reflected in the legal decisions which establish the final results of the first round and the continuation of the electoral process. The second round of elections must be held in a manner which respects the Constitution, the Rule of Law and of the democratic will of the Haitian people"

Catherine Ashton was concerned by the number of irregularities that were reported during the first round and called for transparency and the highest electoral standards in the next stage of the vote. "The EU [European Union] is ready to continue to assist the Haitian authorities in the ongoing electoral process. Political stability and properly functioning democratic institutions are prerequisites for the reconstruction and development of Haiti. All Haiti's political groups have a responsibility to work together to end the electoral impasse and to guide the reconstruction process. I deplore the use of violence to dispute the results and urge the people of Haiti to remain calm while the electoral process moves into its next phase".

HL/ HaitiLibre