S/PV.3282 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on Haiti, documents S/26480 and Add.l. Members of the Council also have before them document S/26484, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United States of America. I should like to draw attention to the following revisions to be made to the draft resolution contained in document S/26484, in its provisional form. I shall read those amendments in English. (spoke in English) The seventh preambular paragraph should read as follows: "Recalling the situation in Haiti and the continuing responsibility of the Council under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security,". At the end of the existing final preambular paragraph add the following: "and recalling in this respect the statement of the President of the Security Council of 17 September 1993 (S/26460),". Immediately following, insert a new preambular paragraph, which reads as follows: "Considering that there is an urgent need to ensure conditions for the full implementation of the Governors Island agreement and the political accords contained in the New York Pact as contained in the annex to the report of the Secretary-General of 13 August 1993 (S/26297),". In operative paragraph 1, the words "Peace-keeping" after the words "United Nations" should be deleted. Operative paragraph 3 should read as follows: "Determines that the UNPMS shall provide guidance and training to all levels of the Haitian police and monitor the way in which the operations are implemented in accordance with paragraph 9 of the report of the Secretary-General of 21 September 1993;". Operative paragraph 5 should read as follows: "Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to place the peace- keeping mission under the oversight of the Special Representative of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and of the Organization of American States, who also oversees the activities of the International Civilian Mission (MICIVIH), so that the peace-keeping mission may benefit from the experience and information already obtained by the MICIVIH;". At the beginning of operative paragraph 7, the words "safety and" should be inserted after the word "such". After existing operative paragraph 12, insert a new paragraph, which reads as follows: "Expresses its appreciation for the constructive role of the Organization of American States in cooperation with the United Nations in promoting the solution of the political crisis and the restoration of democracy in Haiti and, in this context, stresses the importance of ensuring close coordination between the United Nations and the Organization of American States in their work in Haiti;". The remaining operative paragraphs should be renumbered accordingly. (spoke in Spanish) I should also like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the following documents: S/26352 and S/26361, reports of the Secretary-General concerning Haiti dated 25 and 26 August 1993, respectively, submitted pursuant to the Secretary-General’s reports to the Security Council dated 12 July 1993 (S/26063) and 13 August 1993 (S/26297); S/26180, letter dated 26 July 1993 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the text of a letter from His Excellency Reverend Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide, President of the Republic of Haiti; S/26471, letter dated 14 September 1993 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly, transmitting the text of a letter from the Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of American States; and S/26482, letter dated 21 September 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to vote on the draft resolution before it, as orally revised, in its provisional form. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. A vote was taken by show of hands. 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, as orally revised, has been adopted unanimously as resolution 867 (1993). Given the lateness of the hour, and in conformity with the decision adopted in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall now suspend the meeting until 3.30 p.m. The meeting was suspended at 1.45 p.m. and resumed at 3.55 p.m.

I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. Mr. WALKER (United States of America): Today the United Nations takes another important step towards the restoration of democratic government to Haiti. By authorizing the deployment of 567 United Nations Police Monitors and a military construction unit of 700, we are saying to all Haitians of democratic spirit and good will that the community of nations is ready to lend a helping hand. Both the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) can be proud of the role they are playing in helping the tree of liberty take root in Haitian soil. We all understand that the road ahead will not be easy. Haiti is entering a period of fundamental change. Its most important civic institutions must be refashioned as the building blocks of a democratic society. To fulfil that role, these institutions will have to have legitimacy in the eyes of the Haitian people. They must be accountable to the Haitian people. They must operate on behalf of the Haitian people. And they must reflect the unique character and courage of the Haitian people. They cannot be imposed from the outside. But, with the consent of Haitian leaders, outsiders can help Haitian citizens by giving them the benefit of our experience, by providing appropriate material support, and by sharing with them our faith in democratic processes and ideals. The establishment and maintenance of civil order by democratic means is essential to the future of Haiti, and helping that to occur is a central purpose of the United Nations mission. Last July, each party to the Governors Island Agreement undertook a solemn commitment to his country’s future. As witnessed by our action today, the international community is responding accordingly. But we expect the Governors Island signatories to meet their own obligations in full, especially with respect to safeguarding the human rights of Haitian citizens and ensuring the safety of United Nations Mission personnel in Haiti. It has been almost two years since the democratically elected leader of Haiti, Father Aristide, was overthrown. The international community condemned that illegal action and ultimately took the very serious step of applying global economic sanctions as a way of influencing those who had perpetrated it. By our action today, we say to those in Haiti who still believe that the cause of democracy can be thwarted and that their own interests will prosper only under a dictatorial regime that the time for such thinking is past. To those in Haiti who have suffered the consequences of repression compounded by massive poverty and have nevertheless maintained their faith in democracy, we say that the time for validating their faith is at hand. To all Haitians, we say that the time for bitter division is now behind you, and the time for reconciliation and nation-building has come. Mr. MERIMEE (France) (interpretation from French): My delegation felt it was a matter of urgency to vote for this resolution under which it is decided to send to Haiti a United Nations Mission that will promote the implementation of the Governors Island Agreement. My country welcomed the signing of that document, which allows for the return of the legal authorities on 30 October next. The conclusion of that Agreement and the implementation of the initial phases provided for in it were achieved through the commitment and tireless work of the representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Dante Caputo, to whom my country would once again pay a tribute. It is particularly shocking that today he should be insulted and threatened in the very country where he is bringing peace and democracy. Let me reaffirm that France continues to support very strongly the work that he is doing in Port au Prince. The many positive developments in Haiti since July also reflect a spirit of compromise on the part of the leaders of the various factions. It would be unfortunate if the atmosphere were to deteriorate in an enduring way that would compromise the initial achievements in the process of national reconciliation. France strongly condemns the many recent acts of violence and human rights violations in Haiti. My country calls on those responsible to show restraint and to respect the rules of the game of democracy. My country notes the decision to dispatch, for a period of six months, a military construction unit; while not specifically provided for in the Governors Island Agreement, this will help involve the armed forces in the civilian work of rebuilding the country. We can only welcome this. To be sure, the projects to be carried out in this framework will have to be financed by a special fund, which should be funded largely by the participants in the military construction unit. France hopes that the immediate deployment of the United Nations Mission in Haiti will help restore confidence and stability in that country by bringing the endorsement of the international community and the guarantees needed during this transitional period. Mr. HATANO (Japan): The recent developments in Port au Prince should be condemned as a blatant attempt to prevent the new constitutional government from properly carrying out its functions. Japan strongly hopes that the responsible authorities will take immediate measures, in good faith with the Governors Island Agreement, to maintain public order and expedite the process of recovery and a return to democratic, constitutional order in Haiti. The adoption of today’s resolution is of great significance, since the resolution affirms the international community’s determination to remain actively committed to the goal of a peaceful and genuinely democratic order in Haiti. Japan believes that a stronger United Nations presence in Haiti will contribute to a solution of the problems that continue to beset the Haitian people. Japan thus supported the establishment of a new peace-keeping operation for Haiti. Mr. LI Zhaoxing (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese people have all along cherished deep and fraternal feelings towards the Latin American countries and their peoples. We have followed developments in Haiti closely and we support the Haitian peace process. We hold that comprehensive and impartial implementation of the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact is the key to the peace process; the international community has made tremendous efforts to that end. In order to consolidate the initial progress in the peace process and to avoid set-backs, we urge the various Haitian parties to give due weight to Haiti’s national interests, to support the legitimate government in Haiti, earnestly to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, and to continue to overcome difficulties, so as to create the conditions necessary for the scheduled return to Haiti of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. In order to achieve those objectives, the Security Council has approved the recommendations of the Secretary-General, and has decided to send the United Nations Mission in Haiti to assist Haiti in establishing a new police force and in modernizing its armed forces. We are convinced that this endeavour of the international community will help the Haitian government restore security, gradually stabilize the situation and ensure the success of the peace process in Haiti. In view of all this, China supports the recommendations of the Secretary- General, and voted in favour of the resolution adopted before lunch. Mr. YAÑEZ BARNUEVO (Spain) (interpretation from Spanish): My delegation is gratified at the speed with which the Security Council adopted the resolution establishing the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) only a few days after receiving the relevant report of the Secretary-General requested in resolution 862 (1993). In the light of events, our decision supplements the statement made by the President on behalf of the members of the Council on 17 September, in which, in view of the deteriorating situation in Haiti and the acts of violence provoked by certain armed groups, the Security Council sternly warned those responsible for such acts of the possible reimposition of sanctions should the Secretary-General recommend this to the Council. The Council’s two-pronged decision - last week’s statement and today’s resolution establishing the United Nations Mission in Haiti - clearly demonstrates the determination of the United Nations to have a presence in Haiti, to help the parties genuinely to implement the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact, and to bring to the people of Haiti the help they need to restore democracy and democratic institutions. We consider that the dispatch of the Mission should have a positive impact: it will establish a climate of trust that will enable the legitimate government of Prime Minister Malval to assume effective control over the Haitian administration. In the medium and long term, it should also contribute to a deep transformation in the functioning of the Haitian armed and security forces, making them institutions genuinely in the service of the democratic government. We are deeply concerned by the present situation. We are concerned by the threats against the Special Representative of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), Mr. Dante Caputo, and by the obvious, active resistance by certain sectors of the Haitian security forces in impeding the good-faith implementation of agreements entered into, and the transfer to democracy. I refer to another aspect of the statement made by the President of the Security Council on 17 September: that the Council would hold the Haitian military and security authorities personally responsible for the safety of all United Nations personnel in Haiti. Today’s resolution also emphasizes that point. We consider it very important for us to remain vigilant and to ensure that any action that could compromise the safety or freedom of movement or action of the personnel of the United Nations Mission in Haiti immediately receives the response it deserves from the Security Council. It is important to stress that the international community is continuing to work to help the Malval Government regain democratic legitimacy and to ensure the return of the legitimate President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Close cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States and between the International Civilian Mission, which is organized and directed by those two organizations, and the United Nations Mission in Haiti, which is now being created, will ensure a continued, active international presence in the country during this key transitional period of the return to democracy. We hope that the United Nations Mission in Haiti, which we have just established and which we hope will soon be on its way to Haiti, will be able to fulfil as envisaged the various stages of its undertaking and that at the same time the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact will be fully implemented. We trust that all Haitian sectors will recognize the international community’s determination and will have no doubt that the Security Council is prepared to take whatever measures are necessary for the speedy restoration of democracy and institutional normality in Haiti. Mr. SARDENBERG (Brazil): The Brazilian Government continues to follow the situation in Haiti very closely, and with great apprehension. It is essential, in our view, that the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact be strictly implemented in good faith by the parties in order to achieve the solution of the political crisis in Haiti and to restore democracy and the rule of law in that country of the Latin American and Caribbean region. The work carried out by the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Organization of American States and, in particular, the efforts of their Special Representative, Mr. Dante Caputo, continue to be crucial. Brazil gives the fullest support to that work and those efforts. The resolution adopted today provides important additional elements to ensure that the situation in Haiti will evolve in such a way as to allow the full and undelayed implementation of the Governors Island Agreement. The maintenance of a climate of security in Haiti will be essential to that end. In responding promptly and effectively to the request made by the Constitutional Government of Haiti for assistance in the establishment of a new police force and the modernization of the armed forces, the United Nations is making an outstanding contribution to ensuring the successful outcome of the efforts of the Haitian people to overcome their present difficulties. The recent incidents of politically motivated violence in Haiti, which Brazil has strongly condemned, have underlined our concern about the situation in that country and the urgency that is called for in our endeavours to ensure the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, as provided for in the resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Expeditious action was clearly required on the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Haiti. We therefore gave our full support to the adoption today of resolution 867 (1993).

With the Council’s permission, I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of Venezuela. Venezuela welcomes the Security Council’s adoption of this draft resolution, which, we are sure, is an essential contribution to the creation of the conditions necessary for the return of President Aristide to his country on 30 October this year and for the restoration of democratic order in Haiti. Venezuela supports the recommendations in the Secretary-General’s reports of 25 August and 21 September 1993, especially with regard to the establishment and immediate deployment of a United Nations Mission in Haiti. This is an urgent operation because of, among other things, the grave situation of violence and political intimidation that has re-emerged in Haiti, which impedes the effective functioning of the legitimate Government and the creation of a climate of tranquillity and stability, essential for the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Governors Island Agreement, while also hindering United Nations efforts to re-establish democracy in Haiti. Venezuela must express its deep concern over this situation. The international community has committed itself to guaranteeing the implementation of the Governors Island Agreement and the New York Pact, and will not tolerate acts of defiance whose continuance would force it to reimpose the sanctions provided for in resolution 841 (1993). We reiterate our support for the presidential statement made on behalf of the Council on 17 September, which declares that anyone attempting to harm United Nations personnel in Haiti will be held personally responsible. Finally, Venezuela considers that this action of the Security Council, which we will follow very closely, is but one of the steps necessary to restore democracy in Haiti. It trusts that this process will be consolidated and that its objectives will be fully attained in the shortest possible time. That is the end of my statement as representative of Venezuela. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 4.15 p.m.