S/PV.3272 Security Council

At the outset of the meeting, I should like, on behalf of the Council, to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Adolfo Raul Taylhardat, the new representative of Venezuela on the Security Council. We look forward to cooperating with him in the work of the Council. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted. THE QUESTION CONCERNING HAITI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNING HAITI (8/26352)} The PRESTDENT: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document $/26352, which contains a report of the Secretary-General concerning Haiti. Members of the Council also have before them document 5/26384, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution (S/26384) to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. A vote was taken by show of tads. In favour: Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 862 (1993). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting. Mr. MERIMEE (France) (interpretation from French): The French Government welcomes the fact that the Council, after having met to suspend the sanctions placed on Haiti, has today adopted this resolution. That resolution allows the international community once again to note its will to ensure the return of democracy to Haiti. The Governors Island Agreement, concluded on 3 July 1993, defines 10 stages which are to be concluded by the return of President Aristide on 30 October. Our Council today is endorsing the fifth of these stages. Half the road, therefore, has now been travelled. This success is explicit encouragement to all the Haitian parties to continue their efforts. The Council today has taken a decision to send to Haiti an advance team of 30 personnel. We hope that this team can be sent immediately to its theatre of operations to then prepare for the arrival of a larger United Nations mission. The task of that mission will be to create a new Haitian police force and to render its assistance to the modernization of the armed forces in Haiti. It is therefore important for the Council to be provided quickly with the additional information which it has requested, in order to take a final decision concerning this United Nations Mission in Haiti. My delegation believes that this stage, provided for by the Governors Island Agreement, is a critical point to reinforce progress already made in Haiti on the way towards democracy. Mr. LI Zhaoxing (China) (interpretation from Chinese}: I should like to take this opportunity to welcome our new colleague, His Excellency Ambassador Adolfo R. Taylhardat of Venezuela. I am sure that he will add new vitality to the work of the Council. The Chinese delegation is ready to cooperate with him closely and jointly contribute to the success of our work in the Council. Resolution 861 (1993), adopted by the Council not long ago, is a good beginning in helping the Haitian people overcome their difficulties and revitalize their national economy. It shows that the peace process in Haiti -has achieved some initial progress with the concerted efforts of various Haitian parties, assisted by the United Nations, the Organization of American States and Mr. Caputo, Special Representative of the Secretaries-General of both organizations. For this we wish to express our appreciation. The Chinese delegation supports the peace process in Haiti. We hold that the key to genuine and lasting peace and stability in Haiti is for the various Haitian parties, acting in the interest of national stability, to cooperate fully with the international community; adopt practical and effective measures to observe strictly the relevant Security Council resolutions; and seize the current opportunity by strengthening the initial progress made in implementing the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact so that they may overcome difficulties, continue to promote the peace process and create the necessary conditions for the scheduled return of President Aristide to Haiti. It is for the purpose of helping the Haitian people to achieve this objective that the Chinese delegation voted in favour of resolution 862 (1993), adopted just now. outset, I shouid like to thank you, Madam President, and the representative of China for the kind words of welcome you both addressed to me. I should like to assure you and the other members of the Council that I am prepared to contribute to the Council and work jointly with everyone in carrying out the important task that lies ahead of us. The resolution just adopted by the Council represents one more step towards the international community's objective to cooperate in helping Haiti move towards a stable and democratic future and social peace. The measures in the resolution that we have just adopted have been identified and agreed to by the Haitians themselves, as expressly provided in the Governors Island Agreement and in the letter from the Reverend Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Constitutional President of Haiti. The Council is therefore working in accordance with these understandings and with full respect for the sovereignty of Haiti. Venezuela, as a country that is friendly with Haiti and as a member of the Friends of the Secretary-General for Haiti to follow up this agenda item, welcomes this step being taken by the international community to give Haiti the assistance it needs as it moves towards a more just, peaceful and prosperous society. The assistance of the United Nations in creating a new police force and in modernizing the armed forces in Haiti will doubtless be of critical importance in achieving this aim. Venezuela is considering as a matter of the utmost interest and urgency the modalities of its eventual contribution to that effort, and we should also like to emphasize the need to follow up on the recommendations made by the United Nations team during the one-month period provided for that purpose. This initiative by the Council is part of a process which, as a result of the express will of the Government of Haiti, has involved our Organization and the Organization of American States (OAS) from the beginning. The Organization has been a key factor in making it possible for us to reach the stage we are in now. Unlike other similar operations, this one has reflected the security measures and the guarantees that were found suitable by the parties and agreed upon by them in the process which guided the Special Envoy of the Secretary-~General. For this reason, we believe that the organizational and budgetary safeguards in operative paragraphs three, four and five of the resolution should not be interpreted as restrictive or as conditions of the commitment to set up the United Nations Mission in Haiti expeditiously. In conclusion, I should like to reiterate Venezuela's support for the actions and the leadership Mr. Dante Caputo, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, will no doubt provide to the advance team. That he will be part of this process represents for us an invaluable guarantee, and we welcome the fact that he will be in Haiti during the delicate stage which is now beginning. Mr. SARDENBERG (Brazil): The action taken by the Security Council today represents an important additional step towards the solution of the crisis in Haiti and the long-awaited restoration of democracy in that country. As we have already had the opportunity to point out, the unique and exceptional circumstances still prevailing in Haiti call for such action to be taken, and urgently so, and warrant its consideration by the Security Council. The Brazilian Government fully understands that uniqueness and that exceptionality. In that spirit, we have supported the adoption of this resolution. May I also express our gratitude to the Secretary-General for the report submitted to the Council on this matter. When we decided last week to suspend the sanctions imposed in resolution 841 (1993), we recognized that our efforts to deal with the situation in Haiti were bearing fruit, and that it was essential to continue to create conditions for the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, as provided for in the Governors Island Agreement and in the relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS). Today, by approving the immediate dispatch of an advance team to assess requirements and make preparations for possible United Nations assistance in the modernization of the armed forces and the establishment of a new police force in Haiti, we have added an element that will no doubt play a relevant role in ensuring a strong basis for the irreversible development of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti. The timely and strict implementation of the Governors Island Agreement is crucial, and the decision taken today by the Council, which responds to a call emanating from that Agreement, shows our determination to work earnestly towards that end. The Council thus gives further evidence that the international community is committed to pursuing its joint efforts to assist the Haitian people in the historical endeavour in which they are engaged - that of building a fully democratic society and of overcoming the obstacles that have so far hindered their pursuit of economic and social development. International cooperation will be a determinant factor in assisting the efforts of the people of Haiti, and there can be no doubt that such assistance is and will be sorely needed. The resolution provides for a further report by the Secretary-General which will give more detailed recommendations on the proposed United Nations Mission in Haiti, including important aspects such as cost, scope and modalities for coordination with the work of the Organization of American States. We look forward to receiving that further report, and we will be ready to work with other members of the Security Council to take appropriate measures to ensure the continued implementation of the Governors Island Agreement, with a view to the definitive solution of the Haitian crisis. Mr. YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain) (interpretation from Spanish): A few days ago, the Council suspended the sanctions on Haiti. Today, we are completing this action by carrying out the other aspect of the United Nations action in connection with the Haitian crisis, namely, responding to the requirements of the Haitian parties, the legitimate Government of Haiti first and foremost, so that the international community can now witness the establishment of full democracy in Haiti. With the adoption of this resolution, the Security Council is demonstrating its determination actively to assist the legitimate Government of Haiti and the Haitian people in their task of restoring and consolidating their democratic institutions. An important part of the restoration of democracy in Haiti and a crucial element during this new stage which is now beginning is the democratization of the police forces and the military establishment. This is related to the international civil mission which is already functioning in Haiti under the auspices of the United Nations in order to supervise genuine respect for human rights. The assistance of the United Nations in these matters, in cooperation with the Organization of American States, and coordinated by the Special Representative of both organizations, Mr. Caputo, is important for two reasons. Firstly, the United Nations is promptly responding to a request by the legitimate Government of Haiti and supporting the desire of that Government to modernize and professionalize the armed forces and the security forces in Haiti, in accordance with the provisions of the Governors Island Agreement. Secondly, the democratization of these institutions is an essential element in lending a seal of permanence to the period of democracy which is now beginning. We are confident that the advance team which is established by this resolution will be leaving immediately for Haiti and will quickly carry out its task so that the United Nations Mission in Haiti will soon be set up. I wish also to recall that the assistance of the international community in this area must be accompanied by redoubled efforts to help the Haitian people socially and economically during this critical period. We hope that the organizations within the United Nations system will give their full cooperation, under the guidance of the General Assembly. For all this to happen, events in Haiti must continue to be in harmony with the requirements of the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact and with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. That is our deepest desire.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the United States. The adoption of today's resolution marks a crucial next step in the process envisioned by the Governors Island Accord. The process is not a quick fix. Rather, the Haitian parties have recognized that a lasting settlement in Haiti requires fundamental changes in its institutions, and that the process the international community has helped them to establish provides the opportunity to make those changes in an orderly and peaceful manner. The provision of United Nations military and police personnel to assist is vital to this process of reorientation and rebuilding. It is a tangible sign that our commitment will not end with the restoration of constitutional government, but will continue until democratic institutions are firmly in place. It is also a calming presence during the transition period. (The President) We have committed ourselves to this path - to this high road. The Secretary-General's report of 25 August provides a well-considered formula to cultivate an enduring solution. The modernization of Haiti’s armed forces, and the creation of a distinct and professional civilian police, in the context of reform of the entire system of justice, are truly among that society's most pressing goals. We look forward to the speedy dispatch of the United Nations advance team and to its assessment of the situation, followed by the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIHAT). Haiti is at the crossroads as it enters a delicate phase of the settlement process. We have succeeded in restoring hope in a land from which it has been exiled. Let us not falter in carrying through and building on the Splendid efforts that have brought us thus far. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council, The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 4,10 p.m.