John Conyers: “I rise today to heartily congratulate the people of Haiti on their recent election of President Preval on February 7…”

“I rise today to heartily congratulate the people of Haiti on their recent election of President Preval on February 7, 2006. It was a great triumph for the country to hold ``free and fair'' presidential and legislative elections. Reports were that the elections were peaceful and that 60 percent, over 2.2 million Haitians, many who stood in line for 6 hours or more, participated. This election is a great advancement of a return to normalcy for this great country and its stupendous citizens. This is a pivotal point in history for Haiti and the world. I now call on the international community, with the U.S. in the lead, to support democracy in this determined country. I am hopeful that this first step will serve as the beginning of national reconciliation of democracy as well as social and economic development for Haiti.”