ARTICLE - CANADA IS WORRIED

CANNON EXPRESSES CONCERN, WORRY OVER HAITIAN ELECTION
(The Montreal Gazette) - By Juliet O'Neill

OTTAWA — Canada is "extremely worried" about events in Haiti and will find it difficult to recognize results of the election if the situation does not improve, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Wednesday.

Cannon said Canadian Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandine told outgoing President Rene Preval earlier in the day that Canada is concerned about "irregularities" in the electoral process and unrest on the streets.

The ambassador "urged the president to make decisions to restore stability and a smooth, democratic transition. He also raised our concerns about the electoral process, particularly the unrest, and urged for immediate resolve and calm."

Cannon spoke during a brief news conference the day after Haiti's Nov. 28 election results were announced, triggering protests and the torching of Preval's UNITY party headquarters.

"We continue to monitor developments closely and urge all political actors to address irregularities in accordance with Haitian electoral law," Cannon said in a statement he read in French and in English.

"We also urge political actors to fulfil their responsibilities in the interests of the population and demonstrate a firm commitment to peace, democratic principles and integrity of the electoral process."

He declined to specify what decisions he believes Preval should take to restore credibility to the election.

"We are extremely worried regarding the irregularities that have been witnessed, not only by Canadian observers but also by international observers," he said.

"In the unfortunate situation, going forward, nothing is being done to better the situation, that would place Canada in a very difficult position to recognize the outcome of this election.

"So, that's why we are intervening with the president, to make sure that he understands Canada's position and that we call upon him to respect the electoral process."