EU urges Haitian dialogue to calm unrest

Friday, January 16, 2004

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): The European Union called Thursday on political leaders in Haiti to resume dialogue to help calm deadly unrest in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The 15-member bloc condemned violence on Haiti, and urged authorities to ensure that peaceful demonstrations be allowed to take place.

Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide pledged Tuesday to hold legislative elections within six months in a bid to defuse the increasing unrest, which in recent months has claimed several lives and dozens of wounded.

But opposition leaders dismissed the offer, saying it was only for show to the outside world.

"In the situation of polarisation that currently prevails and which impedes any resolution of the political and institutional crisis, the EU earnestly appeals to all parties to renew political dialogue immediately," it said.

Such talks could be held "either directly or by accepting the mediation of the local churches or any other helpful and credible form of mediation", added the bloc's Irish presidency in a statement.

The United States this week called on Aristide to start a dialogue with the opposition. There have been indications that he may soon meet with opposition leaders in the Bahamas.

The EU also said it "deplores the fact that the Haitian government has been unable to prevent the incidents which have resulted in serious human rights violations in various towns in recent weeks".

"It cannot remain indifferent to the reprisals which have been carried out or announced against members of civil society, the opposition, the universities and the press," it said.

In particular the EU condemned violence committed by armed gangs against peaceful demonstrators.

"It urges the authorities to guarantee all Haitians the right to express themselves freely and to demonstrate peacefully, as laid down in Haiti's constitution," it said. 

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