- Title: Blinken urges Haitian leaders to hold free and fair elections this year
- Date: 12th July 2021
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 12, 2021)(STATE TV) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN, WALKING INTO STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ROOM FOLLOWED BY STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON NED PRICE AND OTHER OFFICIAL (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN, SAYING: "The United States is in close consultations with our Haitian and international partners to support the Haitian people in the aftermath of the assassination of President Moise. We urge the country's political leaders to bring the country together around a more inclusive, peaceful and secure vision and pave the road toward free and fair elections this year. Yesterday, we sent an interagency delegation to Port au Prince to assess the situation, which, together with our constant contact with Haitian officials and other stakeholders, will help determine how the United States can best support Haiti in a very difficult time. I want to reiterate our deepest condolences to the family of president always and to the Haitian people and wish first lady Maureen Moise [Meaning Haitian First Lady MARTINE MOISE] a swift recovery." BLINKEN EXITING
- Embargoed: 26th July 2021 20:41
- Keywords: Blinken Haiti President Jovenel Moise; Biden assassination elections
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ELJEFD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (July 12) urged Haiti's political leaders to work toward holding free and fair elections later this year, after a U.S. delegation visited to assess the situation after the assassination of the country's president last week.
"We urge the country's political leaders to bring the country together around a more inclusive, peaceful and secure vision and pave the road toward free and fair elections this year," Blinken told reporters at the State Department.
Also on Monday White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that the United States is still reviewing a request for troops made by Haiti's interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph to help secure key infrastructure after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
Psaki said Haiti's political leadership remains unclear and that it was vital for the country's leaders to come together to chart a united path forward.
Moise was shot dead early on Wednesday at his Port-au-Prince home by what Haitian authorities describe as a unit of assassins formed of 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans. Haitian police said on Sunday they had arrested another key suspect.
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