The Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the EU Council of Ministers, Mr Cowen, today welcomed the decision of the UN Security Council to authorise the deployment to Haiti of a multi-national interim force.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Presidency, Mr Cowen called on all groups to refrain from violence and to respect the authority of the interim president, Mr Boniface Alexandre.
"All parties are obliged to respect the Haitian Constitution and to adhere to international law, including humanitarian, human rights and refugee law. We call on all parties to facilitate the provision of assistance to the affected civilian population.
"The EU stands ready - together with the other concerned parties - to accelerate the search for a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to Haiti's current difficulties. The Presidency appeals to all political forces to set aside their differences in this common cause.
"The United Nations Secretary General has well described the need for the international community to assist Haitians in a sustained manner into the medium and longer term 'to pick up the pieces and to build a stable country'," the statement concluded.
Last night, in response to the deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation in Haiti, the UN Security Council authorised the immediate deployment of a multi-national interim force for a period of three months to help secure and stabilise the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the rest of the country.
The council unanimously adopted resolution 1529/2004, authorising the force to take all necessary measures to fulfill its mandate. The council also declared its readiness to establish a follow-on UN stabilisation force to support continuation of a "peaceful and constitutional political process and the maintenance of a secure and stable environment",
Haiti's president Mr President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and fled the country under armed guard to go into exile in Africa last night. Mr Boniface Alexandre, head of Haiti's Supreme Court, has been sworn in as acting President, in accordance with the country's constitution.
Haiti's political situation became volatile after flawed elections in May 2000. More recently, there were violent confrontations as the positions of the Government and opposition sides hardened.