Foreign

Foreign

UN chief hopes to see Haitian run-off presidential elections in calm, peaceful atmosphere

19 March 2011 22:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday voiced his hope that the run-off presidential and legislative elections in Haiti, slated for Sunday, will be conducted "in a calm and atmosphere", APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency

A statement, issued here by Ban’s spokesman, said, "The secretary-general hopes that the run-off presidential and legislative elections in Haiti on Sunday, March 20, will take place in a calm and peaceful atmosphere and that the Haitian people will take full advantage of this historic opportunity to shape the future of their country."

"The secretary-general calls on the Haitian authorities, the candidates, their supporters and the population as a whole to ensure that Sunday’s vote provides the political stability Haiti requires for its recovery, reconstruction and long-term development," the statement said.

Much is riding on Haiti’s upcoming presidential run-off between former first lady Mirlande Manigat and popular Haitian singer Michel Martelly.

The run-off presidential elections will take place in the small island country after last year’s earthquake that killed some 230,000, a cholera epidemic afterwards and political unrest.

Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Friday returned home from seven years in exile, with his political party - - Lavalas Family -- barred from the country’s presidential elections.

The Haitian Electoral Council barred Lavalas from the elections for technical reasons that its supporters say were bogus. Many of its members are boycotting the Sunday elections, reports said.