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Hillary says elections key to Haiti stability
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged quake-stricken Haiti on Tuesday to hold legislative elections "as soon as appropriate," saying new polls were key to the stability and legitimacy of the Haitian government. Clinton, speaking to reporters after meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval, said rescheduling elections delayed by the Jan. 12 earthquake should be a top priority "to ensure the stability and legitimacy of the Haitian government."There is no government. There won't be a government after an election. Haiti is a basket case. It needs aid, technical assistance and outside governance until it can recover, not just from the earthquake but from fifty years of dictatorship and turmoil. "I assured President Preval that the United States would work with the international community to hold elections as soon as appropriate," Clinton said. Preval has said he would not seek to extend his term in office beyond its scheduled conclusion on Feb. 11, 2011, and said on Tuesday he was confident that legislative elections -- originally scheduled for Feb. 28 -- could be organized in time to ensure an orderly transition. "What we must absolutely avoid is that we have a temporary provisional government that does not enjoy legitimacy," Preval said during his appearance with Clinton, although he gave no dates for when the elections might be held. Posted by: Steve White 2010-03-10 |
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