US will not suspend aid to Haiti over electoral crisis: Hillary Clinton

Port-au-PRINCE - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denied reports that Washington would suspend aid to Haiti with intention to pressurise that country to accept recommendations made by the Organisation of American States (OAS) to settle the electoral crisis.

On being asked if the Obama Administration is considering suspending aid to Haiti, Clinton said they were “not talking about any of that. We have a deep commitment to the Haitian people.”

Clinton’s comments came ahead of a meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval and the other presidential candidates in Haiti, the BBC reports.
The OAS has reportedly asked a government backed candidate Jude Celestin to pull out of the presidential race over allegations that his supporters were suspected of electoral fraud in the first round of the election. After facing pressure from the United Nations, the OAS and the US, his party withdrew its backing from Celestin, but he has not confirmed it as of now.

Clinton further stressed that she wanted to see the recommendations made by the OAS enacted, and added: “We want to see the voices and votes of the Haitian people acknowledged and recognised.”

Last month, US Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who oversees foreign aid for Haiti, had urged that US should halt funding aid to Haiti until the crisis was over.

Clinton urged Haitian officials to take Senator Leahy’s warnings seriously and ensure a fair outcome to the election. (ANI)