Following the preparatory meeting organized by the Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) as a prelude to the dialogue initiated by President Michel Martelly, held Wednesday at the hotel El Rancho in the presence of representatives of thirty political parties, the Executive and the Parliament, the Cardinal Chibly Langlois, announced that "The official opening of the inter-Haitian dialogue" between the Head of State and political parties will begin Friday, January 24. Meeting during which the parties will sign the final protocol that will lead to the opening of dialogue mediated by the CEH, which given it two weeks of working with actors, without excluding an extension of that period according to the needs.

For his part Prime Minister Lamothe remains confident that the presence of political parties to the discussion table, is an important step towards the establishment of a more democratic and sovereign society where every Haitian can put his stone in the edifice of national reconstruction. Convinced that it is appropriate to place the national interest above ideological divisions within the framework of this dialogue that want to be constructive to achieve lasting solutions to meet the concerns of the Haitian people...

A preparatory meeting that took place with he notable absence of the political organization of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Fanmi Lavalas and the "Patriotic Movement of the Democratic Opposition" (MOPOD), which brings together the main opposition parties : OPL, INITE, RDNP, PLH, PROP, Ayisyen pou Ayiti, KID, Ansanm Nou Fo. Note however that the OPL and the KID MOPOD members were present at Wednesday's meeting, which was not the case of heads of organizations of civil society, who have not responded to invitation.

Despite these absentees, after 7 hours of negotiations, the various political actors have finally agreed on a protocol of dialogue, the themes (governance, elections and the Constitution) and a working agenda.

Of absents that beyond the self-satisfaction of the Executive and the CEH, for the results obtained during this first meeting, hardly mask the persistent discomfort in the political class. Absences that the CEH preferred explained in diplomatic term, by of delays in receiving invitations...

For Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, President of the Fusion of Social Democrats, with or without the absent parties, the dialogue will continue, saying the Fusion, Kontrapèpla, the Organization of People in Struggle (OPL) and "Konvasyon Inite Demokratik" (KID), are "a good part of the political opposition" [!]

For his part, Sauveur Pierre Etienne, National Coordinator of the OPL, what is important is that the political parties, despite their differences, have to come together for the good of the country.

HL/ HaitiLibre