Haiti Democracy Project

www.haitipolicy.org

Democratic Convergence--Proposal for a Political Agreement to End the Crisis and Strengthen Democracy

Given the political and institutional crisis arising from the year 2000 elections

Aware of the situation's seriousness and of the dramatic problems which would impact on the country should the two parties, because of the absence of pragmatism, would not reach a compromise on their peculiar interests in favor of collective interest

Understanding, given the facts and the political moment, that neither of the two parties can make its position predominate without endangering the already frail socio-political stability of the country and without hurting the international community which is now more necessary and indispensable than ever

Acknowledging that the first proposals made by the two parties to resolve the crisis are not reconciliable and that it is imperative to find an acceptable compromise for the interest of the Haitian people and the two antagonistic sectors

Considering that this historical compromise must not only allow the opposing parties to solve the political and institutional crisis but also to open the likelihood for the installation of a rule of law, democratic regime, to forge political and social stability, national reconciliation, governability and economic development

As a consequence, the two opposing sides Fanmi Lavalas and Democratic Convergence involved in negotiations under the chairmanship of the Civil Society Facilitation Commmission and the OAS, and after several discussions have decided the following:

1) the establishment of a consensus and national union government (Fanmi Lavalas- Democratic Convergence-Civil Society) for a two-year length, with

a) M. Jean Bertrand Aristide as President. His term begins on February 7, 2001 and ends on February 7, 2003. He pronounces his vows in front of the Supreme Court

b) A Prime Minister from the Democratic Convergence

c) The Prime Minister Selects his Ministers in Consulting with the President

d) The Ministries' General Directors Will Be Selected by the Respective Ministers

e) The Department Delegates and Vice-Delegates will be Selected, in concertation, by the President and the Prime Minister

1) That the State can Operate during the Two Years by Decrees Taken in Council by Ministers and by Other Laws

2) An Appropriate and Adopted budget by the Council Of Ministers

3) The Establishment of a Consultative Council Following the Government and Acting as a Counter-Power Made up of Civil Society People and of Parties Having Participated in year 2000 elections

4) The Management of Territorial Collectivities

a) Municipal Transition Commissions (Fanmi Lavalas-Democratic Convergence-Civil Society) will be installed until the next elections

b) Transition Casec Commissions (Fanmi Lavalas-Democratic Convergence-Civil Society) will be installed until the next elections

c) ASEC and Urban Delegates activities will be Stopped until the next Elections

1) Ambassadors and General Consults will be Selected, in Concertation, by the President and the Prime Minister

2) General Directors from the Autonomous Institutions and Boards will be selected, in concertation, by the President and the Prime Minister

3) The Setting up of an Electoral Independent Institution

a) A new Provisional Independent and Consensual Electoral Council

b) Independent and Consensual BED, BD, BIV, BV

c) Search for an Assistance from the International Community to CEP

1) Organization of New Elections

a) for territorial elections within one year

b) for legislative and presidential elections before two years

1) On the National Police

a) The General Director, Police Chief, and the Police General Inspector will be selected after an agreement between the President and the Prime Minister

b) Technical Assistance of PNH by international assistance for its professionalization and population security

1) Promotion and Respect of Human Rights

a) To Favor Human Rights Respect by Helping Human Rights Haitian Organization to Make their Monitoring Work and Recommendations

b) To Strengthen the Capabilities of the Citizen Protection Office in its Operations

c) To Open a United Nations High Commission Office as well as one for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

1) Help Political Parties' Institutionalization

a) Rationalize Political Parties' Financing

b) Ensure security for political parties so that they can assert themselves on the ground

1) Holding, in no more than one year, of National Meetings to forge a National Pact, the « Bicentennial Pact » whose conclusions will be binding. The meetings will focus on:

a) ways, means, and activities to undertake for ensuring pluralism, political stability, and governability

b) ways, means, and activities to undertake for ensuring the reactivation of the socio-economical situation and stop the environmental degradation

1) The reactivation of dialogue with bilateral and multilateral donors to find financial support in the context of a transitional period and to shortly release available funds

2) Negotiate with interested Countries a Convention regarding Haitian immigration and taking into account the interests of immigrants and those of host countries

3) Negotiate with interested countries Conventions related to struggle against drug trafficking and money laundering and ensure about their effective application

4) The Establishment of an Monitoring Group Regarding the application of the Fanmi Lavalas-Democratic Convergence Agreement. This group, made up of Representatives from Civil Society, UN, the PAS, will have to follow the agreement implementation according to objectively verifiable indicators. (OVI).

Done in Port-au-Prince, on February 2001, 198th Independence Year

For Fanmi Lavalas For Democratic Convergence

For Facilitation Commission The OAS Representative