Dispatch of a Special Envoy to Attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Republic of Haiti

May 12, 2006

The Government of Japan will dispatch Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, Vice-Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs, as Special Envoy of Japan to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. René Garcia Préval, to be held on 14 May (Sun) at its capital, Port au Prince.
In Haiti, the poorest nation in the Central and South America, intensified political conflict between the ruling party and the opposition arising from a dispute over the results of the general election held in 2000 developed into a situation in which the former President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, fled the country in February 2004. Under the provisional government established in March 2004, a Presidential election was successfully carried out on 7 February 2006. It was formally confirmed that Mr. Préval had been elected as the new president, and it has been decided to hold his inauguration ceremony at this time.
Recognizing that the stabilization and reconstruction of Haiti is the common concern of the international community, Japan has been extending steady assistance to Haiti, such as humanitarian assistance including food aid and medical grant aid as well as assistance for holding the elections. Japan has decided on the dispatch from the standpoint of supporting the efforts of the Government of Haiti led by the new President and maintaining and strengthening friendly relations with Haiti.

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