S/PV.6186
6186th meeting
Wednesday, 9 September 2009, 4 p.m.
New York
The question concerning Haiti
Mr. Shalgham (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I wish to welcome Her Excellency Mrs. Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, Prime Minister of Haiti, and former President Clinton, who has just left the Council Chamber. We wish him every success as United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti and thank him for his briefing. Allow me to also thank Mr. Hédi Annabi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing and his efforts to stabilize Haiti.
The situation in Haiti has been on the agenda of the Security Council for a long time, but has recently attracted increasing international attention, as shown by the convening of the donors conference in Washington, D.C., last April, as well as the two visits there by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Haiti, former President Bill Clinton. These are certainly positive indications of the attention being given by the international community to the stabilization of Haiti.
My delegation believes that Haiti has a historic opportunity as it traverses a delicate phase in the strengthening of the peace process and works towards achieving sustainable development. All parties involved must reaffirm their commitment to a better future for Haiti.
In that context, we welcome the ongoing political cooperation between all parties. We pay tribute to the progress made in many fields, in particular the holding of senatorial elections, the adoption of fundamental legislation and continuing dialogue. My delegation hopes that efforts towards a more peaceful and stable environment will continue and register concrete progress in the political process and strengthened security in general.
My country notes with satisfaction the incremental progress in the reform of the rule of law sector, in particular the extension of State authority and the strengthening of the police, justice and corrections systems in accordance with national reform plans. We hope that these reforms will spur efforts to improve human rights through the fight against corruption, organized crime, illicit trafficking and impunity.
Despite these achievements, my country remains concerned vis-à-vis the Secretary-General’s observation in his report (S/2009/439) that collaboration between a number of Haitian institutions remains fragile
“and subject to reversal, with a potential for renewed tensions and conflict among and within the governing institutions of Haiti, and a continued readiness on the part of influential forces within the country to inflame public tensions to further their own interests” (S/2009/439, para. 2).
In addition, the report notes increased civil unrest due to the deteriorating economic situation. There is no doubt that the recurring destructive hurricanes and the recent food insecurity crisis that have afflicted Haiti have also worsened living conditions for most Haitians and increased the socio-economic burden on the State.
Since, security and stability are directly related to improved economic, social and development conditions, the efforts of all Haitian authorities, cooperation between various State institutions and international assistance are necessary to help Haiti to continue to address all the security, social and economic threats it faces.
My country agrees with the Secretary-General’s observations in paragraphs 26 and 27 of the report concerning the need to adjust the force configuration of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti to keep pace with developments on the ground in Haiti. In that context, we welcome the measures recommended by the Mission as a result of its assessment and hope that they will lead to a finalized strategy to reconfigure the Mission.
Finally, we support and welcome the recommendations of the Secretary-General in his report, in particular those on extending the mandate, and agree with him that the primary responsibility for progress falls on the shoulders of the Haitian people.
