[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 409 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 409

     Supporting democracy, development, and stabilization in Haiti.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 28, 2006

   Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself and Mr. DeWine) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Supporting democracy, development, and stabilization in Haiti.

Whereas Haiti has a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $361, over 65 
        percent of the population lives under the poverty line, 50 percent of 
        the population does not have access to clean water, and nearly 50 
        percent of the population is illiterate, according to the World Bank;
Whereas the Government of Haiti has fundamental requirements with respect to 
        providing citizen security, protecting the rule of law, controlling drug 
        trafficking, and fighting corruption;
Whereas, on March 2, 2004, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated, 
        ``We should put the people of Haiti at the center of everything we try 
        to do, and try and help them build a better future. And as I have 
        indicated before, I hope this time the international community will go 
        in for the long haul and not a quick turn-around. We need to work with 
        them to stabilize the country, and sustain the effort. It may take years 
        and I hope we will have the patience to do it.'';
Whereas the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was 
        established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542 on April 
        30, 2004, and extended again until August 15, 2006, by United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 1658, ``with the intention to renew for 
        further periods'';
Whereas over 40 countries participate in MINUSTAH, including 12 countries from 
        the Western Hemisphere;
Whereas the United Nations senior leadership in Haiti is comprised of 
        representatives from Canada, Brazil, and Chile;
Whereas more than 3,500,000 Haitians registered to vote in Haiti according to 
        the Organization of American States;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 Haitians voted in the national elections on February 
        7, 2006, according to the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council (CEP); 
        and
Whereas more than $1,000,000,000 was pledged at the International Donors 
        Conference in July 2004 in support of Haiti's Interim Cooperation 
        Framework: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) urges reconciliation among the people of Haiti, 
        including a government led by President-elect Rene Preval that 
        respects the rights of all political parties;
            (2) supports the holding of the second round of 
        parliamentary elections as soon as possible while stressing the 
        importance of a free, fair, and open process;
            (3) thanks the countries that have contributed personnel to 
        MINUSTAH, particularly Brazil, whose President, Luiz Inacio 
        Lula da Silva, announced on March 13, 2006, that peacekeepers 
        from Brazil will stay in Haiti for as long as the new 
        government in Haiti needs them;
            (4) strongly encourages MINUSTAH to maintain the current 
        elevated troop levels and to raise significantly the numbers of 
        UNPOL police forces;
            (5) urges the international community to continue to 
        support MINUSTAH, to fulfill the pledges made at the July 2004 
        International Donors Conference, and to plan for a new multi-
        year commitment of support at a new donor's conference to be 
        held no later than July 2006;
            (6) recommends the creation of an effective demobilization, 
        disarmament, and reintegration program to encompass former 
        military members and gangs;
            (7) recommends that the new government cooperate fully with 
        MINUSTAH in assuring police and judiciary reform; and
            (8) supports assistance from the United States Government 
        for the reconstruction of Haiti, including programs supporting 
        job creation, governance and rule of law, protection of the 
        environment, social development, and reconstruction of basic 
        infrastructure.
                                 <all>