03/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council has decided to start talks with Haiti and Fiji, two ACP countries against which the EU reproaches the violation of the core elements of the Cotonou agreement - respect for human rights, democratic principals and the rule of law and the fight against corruption. These talks, proposed under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement (former Article 366 b of the Lomé Convention) aim at examining, in an in-depth manner, the situation, and, if need be, to remedy it, and if this fails cooperation with these countries could be partially or totally suspended (see EUROPE of 24 and 25 July, p.6 and 26 July, p.5). For Haiti, these talks will take place in September.