| dc.description.abstract | During 2000, the United Nations continued to assist countries in the Americas region in the attainment of political stability, security, economic and social development, judicial reform and respect for human rights. Although there was an increase in the level of crime in some countries of Central America, progress was made in consolidating democracy in the subregion. The United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), established in 1994, continued to fulfil its mandate of verifying compliance with the peace accords signed in 1996 between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca. In December, the General Assembly extended MINUGUA's mandate until 31 December 2001. After four years, a number of commitments on the peace agenda still had not been implemented or were in the process of implementation. The Commission to Follow Up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements rescheduled the pending commitments in an implementation timetable for 2000-2004. The new Government of President Alfonso Portillo took office in January. In Haiti, the political and institutional crisis continued to worsen throughout the year, stalling the implementation of much-needed structural reforms and further polarizing political and civil society. Parliamentary and local elections were held on 21 May amid a climate of violence. A flawed method of electoral calculation allotted all but one of the contested Senate seats to the ruling Fanmi Lavalas party, headed by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Based on those elections, a new Parliament was installed on 28 August, despite calls for rectification of the results by the international community. Haiti's main bilateral donors suspended all forms of international assistance, deciding to channel their technical support through non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Elections for President and a third of the remaining Senate seats were held on 26 November but were boycotted by the opposition parties. Mr. Aristide was elected President and Fanmi Lavalas won all the contested Senate seats. The International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH) was launched on 16 March in order to consolidate the results already achieved by the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti and the International Civilian Mission to Haiti. The Security Council had extended the mandates of those two Missions in November 1999 to ensure a phased transition to MICAH by 15 March. By mid-October, the three pillars of MICAH—justice, police and human rights—had deployed a total of 68 advisers in Haiti. In November, due to the political turmoil and instability in the country, the Secretary-General recommended that the Mission be terminated at the end of its mandate on 6 February 2001 and called for a new programme of assistance for the Haitian people that was commensurate with the country's political realities. In November, the General Assembly again called on States to refrain from promulgating laws and measures such as the ongoing United States economic embargo against Cuba. It also adopted resolutions on strengthening cooperation with the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community. | en |
