Organization of American States
www.oas.org  

E-091/02
May 10, 2002

SPAIN CONTRIBUTES TO OAS MISSION IN HAITI  

The government of Spain has donated $70,000 to the Organization of American States' (OAS) Special Mission to Strengthen Democracy in Haiti. The funds will be used to support the mission's work in the areas of democracy, human rights, security and the administration of justice. 

Ambassador Eduardo Gutiérrez, who represents Spain at the OAS, presented the contribution to OAS Assistant Secretary General Luigi R. Einaudi in a ceremony Thursday at OAS headquarters.  

"The OAS has a key role to play in bringing about a resolution to the Haitian political crisis and in strengthening democracy over the long term in that country," Ambassador Gutiérrez said. "As a member of the Secretary General's Group of Friends of Haiti, Spain believes it is important to support this effort." 

            Ambassador Einaudi noted that Spain, an OAS permanent observer country, last year alone contributed more than $1.6 million to a range of OAS activities, including electoral observation missions, anti-drug efforts and human rights programs. 

"Spain has shown great solidarity with the countries of the Americas over the years and we are very grateful for its support of the Haiti mission," Einaudi said. "It is imperative for the people of Haiti that we do all we can to help end the political crisis there."

 

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