Brian O'Shea
Ceist:83 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he has taken following calls on his Department to use its influence within the EU to help sustain police and justice reforms in Haiti. [14740/97]
Written Answers - Justice Reforms in Haiti.
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:85 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he proposes to take at EU level to ensure that the fledgling democracy in Haiti is supported and nurtured by the international community. [14607/97]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 83 and 85 together.
Along with our partners in the European Union, we are deeply concerned at the situation in Haiti. In a statement on 2 July of this year, the EU reacted to the indefinite adjournment of the second round of the political elections in Haiti and the resignation of the Government of Prime Minister Rosny Smarth by expressing the strong hope that the Haitian people would be able to express their wishes in free, honest and transparent elections. These elections must offer citizens the widest range of opinions and choices in accordance with rules and procedures accepted by all.
On 4 April 1997, Haiti and the European Community signed a National Indicative programme of Community aid for the preiod 1995-2000. Under this programme, the Community intends to make available to Haiti an indicative allocation of ECU 148 million. An initial tranche of 70 per cent or ECU 103.6 million became available immediately. A second tranche will become available when about 80 per cent of the first tranche has been committed and after a review of the implementation of the indicative programme.
Among agreed priorities for EU-Haiti development co-operation will be the promotion and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and also sustainable economic and social development, with a particular emphasis on human resources, especially gender issues and environmental issues.
Aid from the European Community will be targeted on the following activities so as to assist in consolidating democracy in Haiti: reforms aimed at democratising the judicial system to enable all citizens to protect their rights; institution building with a view to making government more effective, notably by supporting the decentralization of public services so that they can be integrated into local development programmes; local development programmes involving local authorities, decentralised administration and civil society.
Ireland participated in the preparation of the indicative programme and will continue to take an active part in the consideration of individual projects, especially those designed to support and strengthen democracy in Haiti.
The Government will continue to work to ensure active European Union support for the strengthening of the rule of law and the economic and social development of Haiti.