Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent position in relation to the declaration of results in the recent election in Haiti, including the apparent delay in the declaration of a final result; and the role of the United Nations in the preparation and execution of the election and the prospects for a peaceful transition in the country. [6987/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Haitian interim government and the provisional electoral authority of Haiti, Conseil Electoire Provisoire, reached an agreement on 16 February under which René Préval was declared the winner of the presidential elections held on 7 February. It is my understanding that Mr. Préval was declared the winner following an agreement to interpret the Haitian electoral law so as to exclude over 80,000 blank votes from the final count. As a result, Mr. Préval received 51.15% of the valid votes cast and therefore achieved an outright victory in the presidential election without the need for a run-off poll.

United Nations forces played a key role in facilitating the elections as well as improving the security environment in Haiti. The United Nations Stabilisation Mission to Haiti, MINUSTAH, worked with local authorities to launch civic education programmes to prepare for the elections. It also co-operated in demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration efforts. MINUSTAH has provided and continues to provide assistance to the Haitian national police, Police Nationale d'Haïti or HNP, in the development of a reform plan aimed at enhancing professionalism and technical skills, but has noted that respect for the human rights of the Haitian population continues to be compromised by a mixture of criminal violence and institutional deficiencies. MINUSTAH has, therefore, been working to develop local capacities, including by training and advising local human rights organisations, while continuing to monitor human rights on the ground.

On the day of the elections, MINUSTAH's 7,500 troops and 1,800 police officers patrolled throughout the country together with the HNP. A joint security plan was put in place for polling day, which offered a 30-minute response time to all voting centres, except 78 isolated sites, where quick reaction forces could be deployed by helicopter if necessary. Particularly volatile red sites were identified and were detailed a permanent UN military presence, with support from the HNP and MINUSTAH police officers. Military reserves were made available at every level and helicopters were deployed around the country to provide rapid reaction and medical evacuation capacity.

In the run-up to the elections, the Security Council also urged the Haitian authorities to increase and accelerate efforts to prepare for and ensure the smooth conduct of the elections and called on international donors to provide the necessary resources to support the election process. On 14 February 2006 the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of MINUSTAH until 15 August 2006.

On 21 February 2006 the Austrian Presidency, on behalf of the EU, issued a statement congratulating President René Préval on his new mandate and reiterating the EU's support for reconstruction and development initiatives in Haiti. The statement also congratulates the people of Haiti on the high voter turnout for the presidential election, which marked the first step in the process of re-establishing democratic institutions in Haiti, despite serious technical and logistical problems in the run up to polling day. The statement, which has Ireland's full support, notes that the holding of free and fair elections in Haiti is essential in ensuring a return to a secure and stable society and emphasises the importance of holding successful legislative and parliamentary elections in order to consolidate the rule of law and the creation of strong, stable institutions in Haiti. In this regard the European Commission deployed an EU Election Observation Mission, EOM, to Haiti on 12 November 2005, although the elections were subsequently delayed.

As Haiti enters a new phase, I would encourage all political and social actors to come together in a spirit of national reconciliation and dialogue in order to build strong democratic institutions, social and economic stability and an inclusive governance system. Respect for the rule of law and abstention from all kinds of violence is of key importance to ensuring a secure and stable environment in Haiti.