Sandra Honoré, the Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the members of the international community in Haiti represented in the “Core Group” (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States of America, the European Union and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) “welcome the holding of the 25 October elections as an important stepping stone toward the completion of the 2015 electoral cycle. They commend the women and men of Haiti for demonstrating their resolve to exercise their constitutional right to vote in these elections in a generally peaceful environment.”

The members of the “Core Group” note, that by so doing, the Haitian people “have demonstrated their desire for democracy, stability and development and their rejection of violence.” Reiterating the critical importance of these elections for the renewal of Haiti’s democratic institutions and the restoration of institutional balance, they “acknowledges the determination demonstrated so far by the national authorities leading the electoral process, especially the Provisional Electoral Council, the Government of Haiti and the Haitian National Police, to improve both the electoral environment and the management of the process.”

They “deplore the actions of the few who sought to deny the voice of the Haitian people by attempting to disrupt the elections through isolated acts of violence and intimidation. They urge the national authorities to investigate these incidents without delay and in an impartial manner, to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

As the electoral authorities proceed with the vote count, in accordance with the law and established procedures, the ‘Core Group’ stresses the importance of transparency and calls on all stakeholders to continue to act responsibly.”

HL/ HaitiLibre