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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major victory for Haiti yesterday, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) passed by unanimous vote a resolution supporting the strengthening of democracy in Haiti, an important step in bringing an end to the ongoing political impasse. The unanimous vote yesterday by all 34 member states demonstrated that the OAS acknowledges that the Government of Haiti has thus far taken serious, concrete steps to resolve the political impasse. The OAS will work with the Government of Haiti as it continues to move forward to take all necessary steps to reinforce democracy. "The adoption of this resolution, which will result in the release of half a billion dollars, is an expression of decency by those who had the authority to make the release possible," said Lionel Hurst, Ambassador to the OAS for Antigua and Barbuda, in a statement. The resolution supports the normalization of economic cooperation between the Government of Haiti and the international financial institutions. For nearly two years, despite approved contracts and the fulfillment of all necessary conditions, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has blocked more than $500 million in humanitarian development assistance loans to the Government of Haiti. In passing this resolution, the OAS reinforced the principle that the normalization of relations between the Haitian Government and international development banks is vital to the strengthening of democratic institutions in Haiti. "In supporting normalization of cooperation with the International Financial Institutions, the resolution acknowledges the grave social and economic problems that continue to confront the Haitian people," said Roger Noriega, U.S. Ambassador to the OAS and Chairman of the Permanent Council, in a statement. "First, and most important, (the resolution) expresses the support of this hemispheric body for the restoration of the economic assistance by the international financial institutions," said Ambassador Odeen Ishmael of Guyana in a statement. "Financial resources are greatly needed to rebuild and maintain the physical and social infrastructure in the country." "This resolution is not a victory for any one side -- not the Government, not Fanmi Lavalas, not Convergence. It is a balanced resolution that will bring us to free, fair and transparent elections through a process of dialogue and cooperation. If the recommendations within it are materialized, Haiti will come out of the crisis," said Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Philippe Antonio.
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©2003 Copyright Embassy of the Republic of Haiti
