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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the holding of long-delayed presidential elections in Haiti on Sunday, stressing that the process "is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum" in the small island country and urged all the parties involved "to show statesmanship at this critical time for the country."
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here that the secretary-general also welcomed the role of Haitian institutions in ensuring an environment conductive to the holding of the polls.
"He salutes the people of Haiti for having peacefully expressed their democratic right to vote," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "He commends the Haitian institutions, in particular the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the Haitian National Police, for their leadership and professionalism during and in the lead up to the polls."
More than six million Haitians were eligible to vote in Sunday's general elections, after months of delay and a devastating hurricane that added to the country's woes. Voting went generally smoothly, though some incidents were reported, including 18 arrests, reports of fraud, and the seizure of several vehicles and a few weapons
The secretary-general stressed that the electoral process is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum in Haiti and urged all parties involved, in particular presidential candidates and political party leaders, to show the utmost statesmanship at this critical time for the country.
Ban calls on them to reject and discourage all forms of violence and intimidation and place the national interest above any other consideration. He urges all actors to await the results proclaimed by the CEP and only use legal channels for any eventual challenges, the spokesman said, adding that the UN chief also reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations.
On Feb. 14, 2016, the Haitian National Assembly elected Jocelerme Privert as the island nation's interim President, one week after former President Michel Martelly departed without a successor. Mr. Privert served as interim President for 120 days, and an election had been scheduled for 24 April, following an agreement -- known as the Feb. 5 Agreement -- between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.
The CEP further postponed the long-delayed elections in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, pending completion of an assessment of the impact on the electoral process. Prior to the disruption caused by the storm, which made landfall on 4 October, technical preparations had largely been on track for the holding of the polls.
Haiti has consistently failed to meet its electoral timetable and is officially without a head of state. The president of the National Assembly, Jocelerme Privert, has served as Haiti's provisional president.
Political instability has roiled Haiti since its first democratically-elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted by a U.S.-backed coup in 2004.
