PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Caricom, the Caribbean Common Market, plans to invite Haiti back to membership following the election of Rene Preval as president.
The group suspended Haiti two years ago when President Jean Bertrand Aristide was forced out and left the country.
Edwin Carrington, Caricom secretary general, called the election "a wonderful moment," the BBC reported.
Other international bodies have also welcomed the election and the decision to declare Preval the winner without a runoff.
Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States, said he hoped that the Provisional Electoral Council's ruling that Preval won the election would strengthen his legitimacy and Haitians' confidence in political institutions, the Jamaica Gleaner reported.
"This has been a historic election for Haiti, given the voter turnout and the calm that prevailed on election day," Insulza said.
