ACP SECRETARIAT
PRESS RELEASE
14 February 2004

ACP STATES CALL ON ALL PARTIES IN HAITI TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES THROUGH PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) condemns the recent violent conflict and subsequent loss of innocent lives in the Republic of Haiti, and calls upon all parties involved to immediately cease all violent conflict with a view to resume direct negotiations.

The ACP Group welcomes and supports the initiatives taken by CARICOM, and in particular through the Kingston Plan, to assist in resolving the conflict in the Republic of Haiti. The Group would like to encourage CARICOM to continue with its efforts to mediate in the conflict, and to convince all parties to the conflict that political differences can only be resolved sustainable through peaceful negotiations. To this end, the complementary efforts of the Governments of the United States of America and Canada are also noted. The restoration of peace, order and security in Haiti will also contribute to the further strengthening of stability and security in the Caribbean Region of the ACP Group.

It is the sincere hope and wish of the ACP Group of States that the security situation in Haiti will be normalized as soon as possible to allow the Haitian population to celebrate the momentous occasion of their independence bicentennial in peace and freedom.

The ACP Group is committed to do its utmost to facilitate the restoration of peace, order and security in Haiti, and will remain seized on the matter, within the framework of intra-ACP political dialogue.