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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 476 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 476

     Supporting democracy, development, and stabilization in Haiti.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 12, 2006

   Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. 
Feingold, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. 
Martinez) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Supporting democracy, development, and stabilization in Haiti.

Whereas Haiti has a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $361, over 65 
        percent of the population lives under the poverty line, 50 percent of 
        the population does not have access to clean water, and nearly 50 
        percent of the population is illiterate, according to the World Bank;
Whereas the Government of Haiti has fundamental requirements with respect to 
        providing citizen security, protecting the rule of law, controlling drug 
        trafficking, and fighting corruption;
Whereas, on March 2, 2004, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated, 
        ``We should put the people of Haiti at the center of everything we try 
        to do, and try and help them build a better future. And as I have 
        indicated before, I hope this time the international community will go 
        in for the long haul and not a quick turn-around. We need to work with 
        them to stabilize the country, and sustain the effort. It may take years 
        and I hope we will have the patience to do it.'';
Whereas the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was 
        established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542 on April 
        30, 2004, and extended again until August 15, 2006, by United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 1658, ``with the intention to renew for 
        further periods'';
Whereas over 40 countries participate in MINUSTAH, including 12 countries from 
        the Western Hemisphere;
Whereas the leadership of MINUSTAH is comprised of representatives from Canada, 
        Brazil, and Chile;
Whereas more than 3,500,000 Haitians registered to vote in Haiti according to 
        the Organization of American States;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 Haitians voted in the national elections on February 
        7, 2006, according to the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council (CEP); 
        and
Whereas more than $1,000,000,000 was pledged at the International Donors 
        Conference in July 2004 in support of Haiti's Interim Cooperation 
        Framework: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) urges reconciliation among the people of Haiti, 
        including a government led by President-elect Rene Preval that 
        respects the rights of all political parties;
            (2) supports the efforts of President-elect Preval to 
        coordinate municipal and local elections in 2006;
            (3) thanks the countries that are contributing personnel to 
        MINUSTAH, particularly Brazil, whose President, Luiz Inacio 
        Lula da Silva, announced on March 13, 2006, that peacekeepers 
        from Brazil will stay in Haiti for as long as the new 
        government in Haiti needs them;
            (4) supports efforts by the United States to encourage 
        Canada, Chile, and Argentina to maintain their commitments to 
        MINUSTAH;
            (5) strongly encourages the members of the United Nations 
        Security Council to continue to support the current troop 
        levels of MINUSTAH and to raise significantly the numbers of 
        United Nations civilian police forces;
            (6) urges the broader international community to continue 
        to support MINUSTAH, to fulfill the pledges made at the July 
        2004 International Donors Conference, and to plan for a new 
        multi-year commitment of support at a new donor's conference to 
        be held no later than July 2006;
            (7) recommends the creation of an effective demobilization, 
        disarmament, and reintegration program to encompass former 
        military members and gangs;
            (8) recommends that the new government cooperate fully with 
        MINUSTAH in assuring police and judiciary reform; and
            (9) supports assistance from the United States Government 
        to support the reconstruction of Haiti, including programs to 
        promote job creation, governance and rule of law, protection of 
        the environment, access to basic education and health care, and 
        reconstruction of vital infrastructure.
                                 <all>
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