[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 97 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 97

      Calling upon Haiti's political leaders to seek agreement on 
 transparent, free, and widely participatory elections, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 1999

  Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Dixon, Ms. 
  Brown of Florida, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Owens, Ms. 
 Waters, and Mr. Payne) submitted the following resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Calling upon Haiti's political leaders to seek agreement on 
 transparent, free, and widely participatory elections, and for other 
                               purposes.

Whereas Haiti has been without a functioning government since June 1997, because 
        Haiti's political leaders have failed to come to agreement on a prime 
        minister and have failed to resolve the contested April 1997 elections;
Whereas this lack of a functioning government and of a willingness to compromise 
        has hindered the flow of international assistance to and increased the 
        suffering of the Haitian people;
Whereas this suffering has drained the Haitian people's confidence in democracy 
        and eroded international goodwill for Haiti;
Whereas the House of Representatives is concerned that the political impasse 
        between President Preval and the Parliament is having an adverse effect 
        on democracy in Haiti and may adversely influence the independence of 
        the Haitian national police;
Whereas the murder of Senator Jean-Yvon Toussaint on March 1, 1999, contributes 
        to a climate of insecurity and mistrust; and
Whereas any replacement of elected local officials threatens to undermine the 
        ability of Haiti to conduct fully free and fair elections: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on Haiti's political leaders to seek compromise 
        and agreement in order to form a nonpartisan, professional, and 
        competent provisional electoral council that can convene 
        transparent, free, and widely participatory elections as soon 
        as practically possible; and
            (2) affirms the commitment made by the United Nations to 
        support only an electoral process that is free and fair and 
        open to participation by all of Haiti's political and civil 
        society leaders.
                                 <all>