Aid vital to Haitian democracy says Preval

UNITED NATIONS - Haiti's newly elected leader appealed to world governments on Monday to step up long-term development aid to his impoverished Caribbean nation or risk undermining democracy.

"There is a strong correlation between democracy and economic development," President-Elect Rene Preval told the UN Security Council. "The reinforcement of democracy that the international community has for some time now resolved to help Haiti achieve cannot take place without additional funds."

Donor governments, responding to Preval's plea, will gather in May in Brazil for a new round of pledging toward Haiti's development needs, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, who chaired Monday's council meeting, told reporters.

Preval also reached out to Haitian politicians and civic groups, urging them to work with his new government to create "an enabling climate for good government, democracy and participation."

Preval is a one-time ally of ousted former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and, like him, a champion of Haiti's impoverished masses.

Aristide fled the country in February 2004 in the face of an armed revolt and under international pressure to quit. Haiti has since been run by a transitional administration with the support of a UN peacekeeping mission.

Preval was initially due to take office on April 29, but on Monday his inauguration was rescheduled for May 14. The date depends on a second round of legislative elections, initially set for March 19 but now set for April 21, government and elections officials said. The law requires that Haiti have a parliament in place to administer the oath of office.

Preval said the UN peacekeeping force of about 7,500 troops and 1,700 international police officers now in Haiti should keep its focus on the fragile security situation.

Reform of the Haitian police force and legal system were also vital to "establish an enabling environment where law prevails over violence," he said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, echoing Preval's remarks, said Haiti was "only beginning its long journey toward a stable and democratic future."

"It needs and deserves our assistance to reach that destination," he told the council. "That means a vigorous partnership between the leadership and the people of Haiti on one hand, and the international community on the other."

Preval was initially awarded just under 50 per cent of the votes cast in a February 7 election. But, fearing angry protests by his supporters and growing allegations of vote fraud seemingly aimed at denying Preval a first-round win, the electoral authorities changed the way they counted unmarked ballots and declared him the winner.

- REUTERS