here - Center on International Cooperation - New York University
here - Center on International Cooperation - New York University
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108 | Missi<strong>on</strong> NotesOAS Missi<strong>on</strong> to Support thePeace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS)Authorizati<strong>on</strong> and 6 February 2004 (CP/RES. 859)Start DateHead of Missi<strong>on</strong> Marcelo Alvarez (Argentina)Staff Strength Internati<strong>on</strong>al Civilian: 30as of 2009 Local Civilian: 59OAS Special Missi<strong>on</strong> for StrengtheningDemocracy in HaitiAuthorizati<strong>on</strong> Date 16 January 2002 (CP/RES.806 (1303/02))Start Date June 2004Head of Missi<strong>on</strong> Denneth Modeste (Grenada)OAS Office in the Adjacency Z<strong>on</strong>e betweenBelize and Guatemala (OAS/AZ)Authorizati<strong>on</strong> and 7 February 2003Start Date(Agreement <strong>on</strong> the Promoti<strong>on</strong> ofC<strong>on</strong>fidence-Building Measures)Head of Missi<strong>on</strong> Miguel Angel (Trinidad)OAS Missi<strong>on</strong> of Good Offices betweenColombia and Ecuador (MIB/OEA)Authorizati<strong>on</strong> and 17 March 2008Start Date(RC.25/doc.15/08 andRC.25/RES.1/08 rev. 1)Head of Missi<strong>on</strong> Victor Rico (Bolivia)businesses is crucial to providing alternatives forformer combatants and vulnerable adolescents, yetMAPP observed a record of disorganized privatesector engagement that could prove to be morec<strong>on</strong>fusing than helpful if not addressed.Similarly, MAPP c<strong>on</strong>tinued to supportColombia’s implementati<strong>on</strong> of the Justice andPeace Law throughout the year. The law, passed in2005, seeks to bring to justice combatants allegedof crimes during Colombia’s c<strong>on</strong>flict. While thelaw has elicited the participati<strong>on</strong> of more than280,000 victims of paramilitary violence, the lackof final judgments in these cases was a source ofc<strong>on</strong>cern for the missi<strong>on</strong>. Further, despite the apparentcommitment to justice, the requisite structuresnecessary for enforcing judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s remainunderdeveloped, a reality that holds implicati<strong>on</strong>s forthe development of trust am<strong>on</strong>gst the populati<strong>on</strong> -a crucial comp<strong>on</strong>ent for the l<strong>on</strong>g-term c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong>of peace. C<strong>on</strong>sidering the progress that Colombiahas registered with the support of MAPP and themultitude of outstanding issues that remain to beaddressed to entrench the peace, both the missi<strong>on</strong>and the Colombian government will need to redoubletheir efforts in the coming years.HaitiThe OAS has also maintained an operati<strong>on</strong> inHaiti. The OAS Special Missi<strong>on</strong> for StrengtheningDemocracy in Haiti was deployed in 2004 toassist the country through the tense political periodthat followed the end of the country’s c<strong>on</strong>flict earlierthat year.Bey<strong>on</strong>d its political facilitati<strong>on</strong> role, the OASmissi<strong>on</strong> was also mandated by the OAS GeneralAssembly to assist in the preparati<strong>on</strong> for Haiti’spresidential electi<strong>on</strong>s in 2006, in cooperati<strong>on</strong> withUN Stabilizati<strong>on</strong> Missi<strong>on</strong> in Haiti (MINUSTAH).A memorandum between the two organizati<strong>on</strong>sassigned principal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for voter registrati<strong>on</strong>to the OAS, while MINUSTAH was taskedwith supervising all aspects of the electoral process,and with providing security. The OAS’s Nati<strong>on</strong>alHaiti Office, which had been operating in thecountry since 1956, significantly supplemented theSpecial Missi<strong>on</strong>’s work in support of the electi<strong>on</strong>s.Haiti’s 2006 electi<strong>on</strong>s were c<strong>on</strong>sidered relativelysuccessful and were followed by growing security inits urban areas. Nevertheless, the political situati<strong>on</strong>has remained volatile, with the need for the OAS’sc<strong>on</strong>tinued political facilitati<strong>on</strong> clear. This realitywas best dem<strong>on</strong>strated when a protracted period ofgovernment inefficiency in Haiti was capped withthe ouster of Prime Minister Pierre Louis in October2009. While the prime minister was quicklyreplaced, Haiti remains pr<strong>on</strong>e to political c<strong>on</strong>flict asit c<strong>on</strong>tinues its post-c<strong>on</strong>flict recovery.During 2007 and with an eye towardstreamlining its activities in the country, the OAS