Hello, this is Blase Bonpane with a comment.

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the Government of Haiti endorsed the Initial Draft Accord proposed by the Organization of the American States (OAS) to the Haitian political parties, seeking an end to the political crisis that has halted the flow of international humanitarian and development assistance to Haiti.  Haiti has once again demonstrated its willingness to end the crippling political impasse, which stemmed from the May 21, 2000 elections. 

Under the Accord, the Government of Haiti will hold national elections in the second quarter of 2003 to replace members of Parliament who were elected on May 21, 2000.  These members have agreed to sacrifice two years of their terms to end the crisis.  Local officials would also be elected at this time. In addition to the election provision, the Initial Draft Accord addresses issues surrounding the December 17, 2001 attack on the National Palace in Port-au-Prince and the subsequent violence.  The Government pledged to continue to "combat impunity and place the highest priority on strengthening judicial institutions." 

In its endorsement of the Initial Draft Accord, the Government of Haiti agrees to pay reparations to any agencies, institutions, organizations and individuals that suffered damages in connection with the attack on the National Palace on December 17, 2001. President Aristide said,  "The people of Haiti demand and urgently need an end to the political and economic crisis." 

The United States is currently leading an economic embargo against Haiti and is withholding more than $500 million in humanitarian development assistance loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

During many years of corrupt Haitian dictatorships we heard little condemnation of Haitian government. Now that Haiti is in a democratic process our country is starving out one of the world's poorest countries and even demanding that Haiti pay interest on loans it has not received.

In order to save his people Jean Bertrand Aristide is being forced to comply with implications that he is responsible for the violence and misery in Haiti. He needs our solidarity.

This is Blase Bonpane

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