S/PV.6382 Security Council

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. There being no objection, it is so decided. I invite Mr. Mulet to take a seat at the Council table. I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter dated 8 September 2010 from His Excellency Mr. Peter Schwaiger in which he requests to be invited, in his capacity as deputy head of the delegation of the European Union, to the United Nations to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to His Excellency Mr. Peter Schwaiger. There being no objection, it is so decided. I invite Mr. Schwaiger to take the seat reserved for him at the side of the Council Chamber. 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. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2010/446, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Edmond Mulet, to whom I give the floor.

I have the honour today to introduce the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), issued on 1 September. Since the last such report was issued on 22 April (S/2010/200), progress has been made in moving the political process forward, maintaining the security gains of recent years, and supporting humanitarian and recovery efforts. In spite of a fragile political context and a difficult humanitarian situation, I welcome the decision of the Government of Haiti to call its citizens to the polls on 28 November. The elections represent a significant phase in the process of consolidating democracy and re-establishing the State since the earthquake. The elections are also extremely important because they will lead to the election of those who will guide the State during the rebuilding effort over the coming five years. It is therefore critical that they be credible and legitimate, leading to the formation of a Government and National Assembly that will enjoy clear and unchallenged mandates. It is also critical to encourage as wide a national participation as possible. I have already asked the competent authorities to launch a public education campaign to inform and mobilize the electorate. Through its good offices, MINUSTAH has contributed to the emergence of a political consensus on the elections, and I commend the 66 parties and coalitions that will participate in the legislative and presidential ballots. That figure includes political parties that initially sought the early departure of President Préval but have now joined in the constitutional electoral process. In collaboration with the Organization of American States, the United Nations Development Programme and other partners on the ground, MINUSTAH will do its part by providing logistical and security support and coordinating international electoral assistance in order to ensure smooth elections. However, I would underscore the importance of Haitian leadership in this area, and have already called on the Haitian political actors and authorities — in particular the Provisional Electoral Council — to work in transparency and in compliance with Haitian law and democratic principles. The security situation in Haiti remains generally calm but fragile. Despite an upsurge in crime since 12 January, the number of incidents is comparable to that of 2009. However, weak institutions, the presence of camps for internally displaced persons, an increase in gang activity and the instability that characterizes electoral periods in Haiti contribute to creating a volatile security environment. I remain concerned by the situation in the camps, where vulnerable groups — particularly women and children — are liable to be victimized by sexual and gender-based violence. MINUSTAH has therefore established a multidisciplinary Internally Displaced Person Camp Unit that will act in support of the Haitian National Police in maintaining security in the camps. I should like to note, however, that it is impossible to guarantee complete security coverage in the 1,300 camps by the staff available to the National Police and MINUSTAH. The Haitian States estimates the number of displaced persons to be 1.3 million. The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications and the United Nations Office for Project Services undertook a structural assessment of 230,000 buildings that revealed that half are structurally sound and one quarter need some repair work, while another quarter are recommended for demolition. In spite of these results, the return of displaced persons remains slow, and reconstruction is being impeded by the presence of debris and the lack of a land register. With respect to the latter, decisive national leadership will be necessary in addressing the problem of property titles and right-to-housing law. A balance will have to be struck between emergency services to the population and the need to encourage their return to the communities or neighbourhoods they came from. That will require, inter alia, the provision of adequate shelter and basic services, particularly in health and education, to motivate returns. At the same time, forced evictions of displaced persons are of concern. The Protection Cluster Working Group has called for an official moratorium on forced evictions in order to protect the rights of the most vulnerable victims of the quake. Since 12 January, the immediate humanitarian needs of displaced persons have largely been met. In addition to significant distribution of essential humanitarian goods, more than 150,000 persons have been employed in various cash- and food-for-work projects. The humanitarian community has begun to build sound temporary shelters. The United Nations and its partners hope to build 139,000 such shelters by mid-2011. The vulnerability to hurricanes of displaced persons and the population in general is of concern. MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team have taken measures in support of the Haitian authorities to prepare a response to the hurricane season, in particular by creating logistical centres, prepositioning emergency food rations, and assessing the vulnerability of camps. The MINUSTAH military component has also launched exercises to prepare for new disasters and to update its contingency plans. The Government of Haiti has developed its own capacity with respect to the coordination of humanitarian and recovery activities. The President has created the Presidential Commission on Resettlement, which he co-chairs with my Deputy, Mr. Nigel Fisher. The Commission is working with the humanitarian community on the development of a strategy and operational plans to guide the relocation of displaced persons living in camps. The United Nations country team and the Prime Minister’s Office are working to further integrate the existing humanitarian structures into the national coordination architecture, led by the Ministry of Planning. The Government has also reactivated sectoral coordination groups (Tables sectorielles), based on the priorities identified in the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development. Moreover, the leadership of the majority of humanitarian clusters has been transferred to counterparts in ministries. The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, co-chaired by Prime Minister Bellerive and former United States President Clinton, was established on 21 April. At its most recent meeting on 17 August, the Commission approved 29 projects totalling $1.66 billion. Eight of these have been presented by the United Nations system, which must now mobilize more than $200 million to implement them. At present, excluding debt forgiveness, $506 million, or 18.9 per cent of the pledges for 2010, have been spent. I would like to remind Council members that the co-Chairs of the Commission have let indicated that efforts to speed up its work are limited by the slowness of the financing promised at the New York conference on 31 March. Now that several projects await financing, I call on the donors to disburse the promised funds rapidly. In resolution 1927 (2010), the Security Council called on MINUSTAH to provide the Government of Haiti with logistical support and technical assistance. MINUSTAH intends to provide this support selectively in order to allow for the arrival of donors’ funding. A plan has thus been developed to provide temporary space and basic office equipment to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, to the judicial and correctional institutions, to the National Police and to local administrations so that they can maintain operations. The cost of this logistical support is estimated at $7.9 million for the current budget period. That represents less than 1 per cent of MINUSTAH’s budget proposal, which will be presented to the General Assembly in the autumn. At the same time, MINUSTAH and the country team will assist these governmental institutions in preparing to submit their projects to the Commission. After this short survey, I would like to inform the Council of the most recent developments since the Secretary-General’s report was drafted in mid-August, in order to give Council members as up-to-date an overview as possible of the situation. In the area of elections, MINUSTAH’s support for the Provisional Electoral Council has allowed us to stick to the current electoral timetable. Nonetheless, it is a very tight schedule and the Council must continue to comply with it to ensure that elections will indeed be held on 28 November. The next important stages will be the launching of the electoral campaign on 27 September and the posting of the electoral list on 29 October. I wish to draw the Council’s attention to the complexity of the process of registering voters who have lost their national identity cards, a significant fraction of the displaced population. I have asked the Office national d’identification and its partners to redouble their efforts to allow the earthquake victims to exercise their constitutional rights. The evaluation of security has been completed in almost all the voting centres. The National Police and MINUSTAH have completed an integrated security and logistics plan, but even if all the pledged fund contributions materialize, we will still have a $2-million shortfall. In the area of humanitarian issues, the International Organization for Migration has registered about 1.25 million displaced persons. Twelve thousand temporary shelters have been built. A contingency plan for the hurricane season has been prepared, including pre-positioning supplies and food for about 600,000 people. In regard to policing, I welcome the fact that the National Police Academy’s twenty-second class has begun training. When it graduates in seven months, the 900 recruits will join the ranks of the Haitian National Police — 500 as police officers, 300 as corrections officers and 100 as coastguards. Furthermore, in the context of our efforts to arrest prison fugitives and gang members, United Nations police officers (UNPOL) are supporting the Haitian National Police in sweeps about three times a week. Since the issuance of the report, the United Nations in Haiti has established an operational plan to address problems of sexual and gender-based violence. Training in this area has begun in recent weeks for personnel in the Haitian National Police, UNPOL and the military component, who are often the first responders. Measures have also been taken to allow personnel to refer victims to available medical services. We have also begun a public information campaign on prevention and what to do in case of rape. At the same time, the Internally Displaced Persons Camp Unit, staffed by 200 UNPOL officers, continues to provide a permanent presence in six high-risk camps housing 135,000 people, and to conduct daily patrols of 70 other camps identified as priorities. An initial sub-commission of the National Police is now operating in the Jean-Marie Vincent camp — one of the camps posing the greatest number of public security problems. Moreover, the military component is mobilizing between 350 and 500 soldiers a day in order to protect displaced persons. Some modest progress has been made in the area of justice in the last few weeks. The Court of Appeals in Port-au-Prince is in session again after an interruption of more than seven months. In addition, 26 lawyers have been enrolled in magistrate training in France. I am concerned, however, about the continuing absence of the Conseil supérieur du pouvoir judiciaire, which, given its monitoring role, is a fundamental element of judicial reform. I have requested the Government of Haiti to formalize its establishment and to name the President of the Cour de Cassation, which oversees both the Conseil supérieur and the National Magistrates’ School. It is important to emphasize that, in the absence of meaningful progress in the area of the rule of law in Haiti, MINUSTAH’s efforts to implement its mandate will be in vain. The MINUSTAH programme for reducing community violence has begun to focus on the issue of violence in displaced persons camps, especially those adjacent to neighbourhoods that are priority areas for violence reduction and those that have a particular problem with gang activity. The Community Violence Reduction Section is also partnering with the military component to study a model for the relocation of some of these zones. In regard to support for State institutions, from 15 to 20 August the Civil Affairs Section facilitated an inter-parliamentary visit of high-level parliamentary administrators to the Dominican Republic to observe a training course on the modernization programme of the Dominican Congress. MINUSTAH has also evaluated the needs of the delegations and vice-delegations in the departments. I am expecting a report on that evaluation in the next few days. Additionally, several United Nations agencies have made technical staff available to the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. In spite of the devastation created by the earthquake of 12 January, Haiti has not experienced a second wave of epidemics or social unrest. This relative success is nonetheless precarious. The Haitian Government faces short- and long-term challenges, such as organizing elections, maintaining order in the camps, reconstruction and the issue of dealing with rubble and debris, and relocating displaced persons, which is largely dependent on the availability of temporary and permanent shelters. If it is to meet these challenges, Haiti must be able to count on the decisive leadership of its Government and the ongoing support of the international community. Elections with results that all Haitians can accept represent an important step in that direction.

I thank Mr. Mulet for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, and the members of the Council for organizing this debate, which demonstrates once again the Council’s interest in Haiti. Allow me to also thank Mr. Mulet for his very comprehensive briefing, which gave an overview of the situation as seen from his privileged position in Haiti. Mr. Mulet’s briefing was so comprehensive that it is difficult for me to add anything. Indeed, the challenges facing the Government have been clearly described by Mr. Mulet. I will mention two: the issue of the legislative and presidential elections scheduled, as noted, for 28 November this year, and the reconstruction work in the country following the earthquake of 12 January. Regarding the first challenge, the elections, on behalf of the Government I can assure the Council that everything will be done to organize credible and transparent elections whose results are accepted by the population. It is obvious that the second challenge — the recovery work — will necessarily require the next Government to enjoy the necessary legitimacy to lead the reconstruction process to a successful conclusion. Regarding the reconstruction work, as has also been stressed, the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission is now functional. At its most recent meeting, several projects were approved, as Mr. Mulet noted, although we lack the funds to launch them. It is therefore clear once again that the international community’s contribution, in particular the fulfilment of the pledges and the effective availability of the funds promised to my Government at the 31 March conference, is extremely urgent in order to ensure that the population’s expectations are not disappointed. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/446), as noted by Mr. Mulet, highlights the fragility of the security situation. As there are 1.3 million people displaced or otherwise affected by the 12 January earthquake, the reconstruction work has become increasingly urgent and necessary, and its impact on the security situation cannot be underestimated. That is why it is so important for the Government and the international community to ensure that the amounts pledged are made available to the Commission in order to avoid any delay in the reconstruction work and to ensure that there is no outbreak of violence due to a failure to meet the population’s legitimate expectations of better conditions. As Mr. Mulet has said, much work remains to be done. This will, of course, be a long-term effort. I would like to assure you, Sir, and the members of the Council that the Government is committed to ensuring that this work takes place in good conditions. We know that, there will be a new administration at the beginning of next year, but the current administration will nonetheless want to lay the foundations for the new administration to be able to continue the work already begun. Regarding financing, as noted, only 18 per cent of the pledges have been delivered thus far, and I know that the co-chairs of the Interim Commission — former President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Bellerive — have called on our international partners to increase that percentage so that the projects that have been approved can be implemented. In this regard, all I can do is thank the countries that have already delivered and, on behalf of my Government, call on those who have not yet or have only partially done so to do so, and assure them that the Government has done everything possible to ensure a transparent and peaceful management of these funds. To conclude, please allow me once again, on behalf of my Government, to express our appreciation for the assistance we have received thus far for the electoral process and for the reconstruction of the country. I thank the international community as a whole. I do not want to name names, but I cannot help but mention the contributions provided by our neighbouring regional and subregional communities. That is what I have to add to the very comprehensive briefing of Mr. Mulet, whom I would again like to thank, along with the members of the Council and you, Sir.

I now give the floor to the members of the Council.

We are grateful to the Secretary-General for his latest detailed report on the situation in Haiti (S/2010/446). I would also like to thank Special Representative Mulet for his skilled and dedicated leadership and for his thorough briefing today. I also thank Ambassador Mérorès for his summary of the situation from the perspective of the Haitian Government. The United States expresses our strongest support and deepest thanks to all the staff and personnel of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for their extraordinary work under very difficult conditions. We share the view that the political situation in Haiti remains fragile, but the progress being made towards holding elections in November is positive. We recognize the hard work of MINUSTAH to push this prospect towards reality and to provide broad support to the upcoming elections. Peaceful and credible elections and the transfer of power to a new Government will be key milestones in Haiti’s progress. We also welcome the efforts by MINUSTAH to assist the Haitian National Police and others in providing a secure and stable environment, and we commend their work to maintain general stability throughout this very challenging period. The United States is deeply concerned about vulnerable populations in the internally displaced person (IDP) camps and neighbouring communities, and especially about the extent of sexual and gender-based violence. Although we understand the difficulties regarding the lack of reliable and comprehensive data, any level of sexual or gender-based violence is unacceptable, and we appreciate the ongoing efforts of MINUSTAH to address this situation. We applaud the plan to utilize the military component in a more community-based approach, which, we agree, should have an impact on sexual and gender-based violence in and around the IDP camps. Addressing the critical issue of sexual and gender-based violence must be part of a wider effort to empower women throughout the reconstruction process, and we encourage MINUSTAH to expand its efforts beyond the IDP camps and their vicinity to other areas both in and outside Port-au-Prince. The United States agrees that the increased flow of weapons and drugs into Haiti is a destabilizing factor, and we encourage MINUSTAH to look at ways to leverage its existing capabilities, wherever possible, to help interdict this flow. We understand that the deployment of military forces, based on the increases authorized in resolution 1908 (2010), seems to be proceeding well. We look forward to seeing their contributions to stability and security. The Secretary-General’s report mentions the discussion of force drawdown. We recognize that this increase is indeed temporary in nature. That said, we believe that any discussion of drawdown must be based on the security conditions on the ground in Haiti, on the achievement of security benchmarks and, after the hurricane season, on the completion of the elections and the peaceful transition of power early next year. The deployment of police forces has been sometimes challenging, but it is largely on track. We encourage nations to support resolutions 1908 (2010) and 1927 (2010) and to deploy police in support of this critical mission. The United States has 45 police personnel in Haiti, and we are working to double the size of our individual police contingent in the coming months. We welcome contributions from other Member States.

I thank Mr. Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing and, more important, for his dedication and able stewardship of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) under very challenging circumstances. I also thank Ambassador Léo Mérorès for his remarks today. The Secretary-General’s report before us (S/2010/446) justifies renewed hope about the future of Haiti. Despite immense human and material losses, stability was maintained, the country is making important strides in its recovery and key political processes were resumed. The Haitian people are to be commended for such accomplishments. Consolidating these achievements and facing the challenges ahead require strong leadership from the Government and sustained international support in three priority areas: security, recovery and reconstruction and elections. The fact that the security situation has remained stable is encouraging. We were also glad to learn that the deployment of the additional troops authorized by the Council is near completion. The surge in police personnel allowed for the expansion of United Nations police tasks, which is critical at this stage. In our view, the level of authorized contingents must be maintained. It is reassuring that several measures have been taken, and others are being planned, to ensure the security of Haitians living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), in particular women and children. That is of the utmost importance. We encourage MINUSTAH to continue to focus on the safety of IDPs, with special attention to protection from sexual and gender-based violence. That task will be made easier through enhanced community violence reduction programmes and quick-impact projects. Two other important areas merit the Mission’s attention: the increase in the circulation of weapons and the transshipment of certain drugs. The latter is especially worrisome in the light of its potential for undermining institutions upon which Haiti’s future depends. In the long term, those problems can only be solved through capacity-building and the strengthening of Haitian institutions. We were therefore pleased that 900 new recruits began training at the Haitian National Police Academy earlier this month. Efforts must be redoubled to make up for the quantity and expertise of personnel lost in the earthquake. We urge the international community to further support the Haitian National Police. I am glad to report that the Brazilian Federal Police has been providing specialized training to Haitian agents in several areas. Eight months after the tragedy, it is reassuring that the most urgent and basic humanitarian needs of the Haitian population are being met. We are deeply grateful to all those who worked selflessly and generously for that to happen. Nevertheless, recovery is far from finished, and reconstruction remains an immense challenge. The most pressing need is ensuring the best protection possible against hurricanes and flooding. We note that several steps have been taken in that regard, and we urge the Government and MINUSTAH to stay focused on this matter. For recovery to move forward and reconstruction to gain speed, three measures seem to be of particular importance: the removal of debris, the identification and preparation of land for resettlement and the immediate implementation of reconstruction projects. Those aspects are interrelated and equally important, but today I wish to briefly comment on the last one. The setting up of the constitution of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the Haiti Reconstruction Fund were very important steps, and we commend all those who made them possible. The approval of the first batch of projects by the Commission, surpassing $1 billion, testifies to the Commission’s relevance. What is urgent now is to fund them, and do so in a way that breaks a pattern of international assistance that has not so far contributed to strengthening the Haitian State. In that regard, it is worrisome that, as reported, less than 10 per cent of the assistance pledged so far is expected to be channelled through the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. Brazil has given $55 million to the Fund, including $15 million in direct budgetary support. It is important that pledged resources be disbursed quickly and that they be channelled in a way that supports Haitian priorities and institution-building. While the operational capacity of the Government is being restored, MINUSTAH’s provision of logistical support and technical expertise to the Haitian authorities as per resolution 1927 (2010) is of particular importance. We were pleased to learn of the steps taken in that regard and of measures now being planned. In Brazil’s view, it is absolutely essential that all efforts be made to provide such assistance as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. The November elections will be very significant. They will further consolidate the notion of the regular constitutional transfer of power and allow for the full restoration of legislative mechanisms and the completion of urgent constitutional reforms, thereby helping to create a more favourable environment for economic growth and investment. For those gains to be fully realized, the vote must be free, credible and transparent and held in a calm and secure environment. We hope and expect that all political parties in Haiti will act in that spirit. MINUSTAH, the Organization of American States and bilateral partners are already working closely with the Haitian authorities to support their preparations for the poll. Brazil has donated $500,000. More financial contributions and constant political support are needed. We urge all donors to be as generous and flexible as possible. Eight months after the earthquake, much has been achieved and much more remains to be done. The international community has a unique chance to assist the people and the Government of Haiti in building an effective State and further strengthening their nation. We should seize this opportunity with determination and from the long-term perspective of our common interests.

I would first of all like to pay tribute to Special Representative Edmond Mulet, to whose briefing I listened with great interest. I commend his commitment at the head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). MINUSTAH, whose personnel work tirelessly under conditions that continue to be very difficult, plays a crucial role in Haiti. Mr. Mulet enjoys the respect and trust of Haitians, and he should have the full support of the Security Council. I also listened with interest to the statement made by Ambassador Mérorès, Permanent Representative of Haiti. I assure him of France’s commitment to continue its support for Haiti. An electoral process has begun in Haiti since our last meeting on this subject. As the Secretary-General points out in his report (S/2010/446), it is essential that the presidential and legislative elections be carried out in the best conditions possible, so as to provide strong governance for the country and enable Haitian leaders to carry out the reconstruction effort. MINUSTAH is already contributing to the ongoing effort by providing technical, security and logistical support. We call on the Haitian authorities to support the smooth conduct of this process. In that regard, MINUSTAH continues to play a crucial role in various areas, including good offices, maintaining public order, promoting human rights and strengthening the rule of law, which, more than ever before, should be at the centre of the Mission’s mandate. This United Nations Mission demonstrates the complexity of the mandates entrusted to peacekeeping operations. However, in order to continue to effectively perform its tasks, MINUSTAH will need sufficient resources. In particular, we should ensure that there are always enough police personnel. That is vital to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable groups; I am thinking in particular of women, whose security must be a priority. In Haiti, perhaps more than elsewhere given the circumstances, the success of the United Nations depends on good coordination of the various actors on the ground. It is vital that the agencies, funds and programmes work in a coordinated way in their various areas, whether they concern democratization, development or security. The New York conference in March opened up prospects. The international community strongly mobilized and commitments were made. We welcome the establishment and the work of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, thanks to which clear priorities can be defined. As the Secretary-General underscores in his report, it is extremely important that all commitments be met. The donors, for their part, should be kept informed of the needs and priorities that have been identified. We must also continue to give our full attention to assisting the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, who will have to live in camps for an as yet undetermined time. The more time passes, the more urgent it becomes to meet their needs, especially for security reasons. France is providing Haiti considerable assistance, with $326 million for the period 2010-2011 and further technical cooperation efforts in various areas, in particular education, governance and the police. We are also committed to strengthening the rule of law, including by helping to train judges. Moreover, we are making a large contribution to the aid given by the European Union, whose representative will shortly give the details; France associates itself, in advance, with the statement that he will make. France is also deeply committed within MINUSTAH, including through the deployment of nearly 140 gendarme and police officers, which makes our country one of the largest contributors of police to the Mission. We have also provided direct support to the Haitian National Police and the firefighters, in particular by sending 110 vehicles. Lastly, we have deployed, in coordination with MINUSTAH, military engineering capacity to help with clearing Port-au- Prince and other urgent activities in that area. France will continue its commitment to the Haitian people and Government, in close coordination with the United Nations. It will do so as part of a comprehensive effort involving the State, and also local communities including the French Caribbean departments, non-governmental organizations and the Haitian diaspora living in France.

I would first like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on the initiative to convene this debate on the development of the political, security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his detailed report on those issues (S/2010/446), and, lastly, to express my appreciation to the Permanent Representative of Haiti for the particularly enlightening information and analysis that he has shared with us. Members will recall that at a number of international conferences held on Haiti, including the donor conference of 31 March 2010 and the conference held in the Dominican Republic on 2 June 2010, the Haitian Government committed, before the international community, to organizing general elections on 28 November 2010. In that regard, my delegation welcomes the steps taken to date by the Haitian Government to create conditions conducive to organizing that vote. Thus, Gabon urges the Government and the parties engaged in meeting this timeline to become fully involved in completing the constitutional reform process under way. Given the impact that the holding of these elections will have on the recovery and reconstruction process of Haiti, Gabon supports the current coordination among the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Government and civil society in preparing those elections. Likewise, my country appreciates the efforts made in that area by the international community. In particular, we welcome the significant $390 million contribution of the European Union and the announcement of $200 million in financial assistance made by the Union of South American Nations. In terms of security, we are pleased that the situation remains generally calm. However, my delegation continues to be concerned about the sexual and gender-based violence against women and children and the resurgence of crime by organized gangs, linked in part to the escape of prisoners. That is why we support keeping MINUSTAH military and police troops at their current level so as to ensure support for the Haitian security and defence forces. Regarding the humanitarian situation, in particular that of displaced persons, we support the Secretary-General’s appeal for the establishment of a comprehensive strategy to resettle the earthquake victims. With regard to the recovery and reconstruction of Haiti, my delegation encourages donors to meet their commitments. The development of a stable and prosperous Haiti will depend to a large extent on keeping the promises made by donors. Without doubt, the reconstruction of this country is a challenge for the international community. From that standpoint, Gabon supports efforts seeking aimed at the Government’s effective implementation of the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti. Lastly, my delegation renews its support for the action of the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, President Bill Clinton, and that of MINUSTAH and its head, Special Representative Edmond Mulet.

Like previous speakers, I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Edmund Mulet for his very comprehensive briefing and the commendable work that he has undertaken as head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I also hail the presence of Ambassador Mérorès at this Security Council meeting, which we believe not only important, but welcome. I would also like to point out that my delegation fully adheres to the statement that will be made later by the Permanent Representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti; I will thus be able to limit my comments in my national capacity. Nine months after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, the United Nations capacity to mobilize international efforts and assistance to respond to the humanitarian emergency and to assist with the recovery of Haiti has been more than demonstrated, despite that country having suffered, as we all know, great human and material losses. It is right to praise the Security Council’s resolute response to immediately strengthen MINUSTAH’s capacity with additional personnel, to expand its activities within the current mandate and to give greater technical, operational and logistical assistance to the Haitian Government. Even when, as we have just heard, the Government of Haiti has redoubled its efforts to take on a leadership role in coordinating the humanitarian and recovery activities, as well as with regard to measures to tackle unforeseen and natural disasters, it is still necessary to strengthen the State’s capacity so that it can shoulder all its responsibilities. Fortunately, we have MINUSTAH’s support in creating the political, security, protection and recovery opportunities that will enable Haiti to move towards an environment conducive to its reconstruction and development. Without doubt, MINUSTAH has been vital in maintaining stability, promoting reconstruction, ensuring the survival of the national institutions and supporting the country’s population under tragic conditions. However, Haiti will face many challenges in the coming months, as we have heard the Special Representative and Ambassador Mérorès mention. Thus, we believe that the United Nations and the international community will have to step up their support and assistance to that country’s people and Government so that those challenges can become opportunities in order to help overcome Haiti’s structural problems in the sphere of economic and social development and its institutional fragility. My delegation welcomes the political agreements reached and the Government’s resolve to organize and hold elections on 28 November. These will be decisive to guaranteeing political stability, the rule of law and the democratic process in that country. These essential elements will contribute to the recovery and the socio- economic development of the country. We agree with the Secretary-General that it is essential to guarantee a credible and legitimate electoral process, upon which political stability largely depends. There is no doubt that MINUSTAH has an essential role to play in this process in coordinating international electoral assistance; providing technical, logistical and security support for the Provisional Electoral Council, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, the Organization of American States and other relevant international actors; and contributing to generating the necessary trust in the process. My delegation also supports the Secretary- General’s recommendation that the current level of MINUSTAH staff be maintained in order to guarantee security and stability after the elections in 2011 and until a new evaluation of the security situation can be made. That will provide us with specific parametres that take into account the post-election political environment, the capacities of the National Haitian Police, especially in protecting displaced persons, and support needs related to assistance activities. The Mexican delegation has widely acknowledged the need to restore the confidence of the Haitian people in their institutions and to establish specific measures to foster dialogue and national reconciliation in order to create conditions in which Haitian society can achieve its common future. Mexico encourages MINUSTAH to maintain its support for the Government in capacity-building and its advisory capacity to the Haitian National Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, as well as to the main judicial and corrections institutions, in order to move ahead in police reform; support essential judicial services; manage controversies related to land law, property disputes, disappeared persons, custody and inheritance; and support Government efforts to deter and combat organized crime and illegal drug trafficking. In conclusion, my delegation agrees with the Secretary-General that Haiti’s reconstruction is a long- term project that will require the sustained support and commitment of the international community and the leadership of the Haitian Government. MINUSTAH’s success and its drawdown will also depend on the progress and feasibility of reconstruction, as well as the establishment of institutional structures to support the country’s capacities.

I would like to thank Mr. Edmond Mulet for his comprehensive briefing and remarkable work in a difficult and challenging environment. I also thank the Permanent Representative of Haiti for the additional comments he provided to the Council. I will focus my remarks on elections, humanitarian challenges and security issues. With respect to elections, the positive atmosphere in Haiti since the adoption of resolution 1927 (2010) and the successful hosting of several donor conferences has helped to create conditions favourable to the holding of presidential, legislative and municipal elections in the country before the end of 2010. There is, however, a disturbing disquiet within the polity about the modalities for the conduct of the election that must not be allowed to derail either the electoral process or the peace and stability achieved so far. All stakeholders are encouraged to work towards free and fair elections and a negotiated settlement of their differences. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has a critical role to play in supporting the electoral process, particularly in providing logistical and technical assistance for the conduct of the election. The mediatory role played by the Special Representative in re-establishing confidence among Haiti’s major political actors and the electoral process is commended. On security, we are pleased to note that the security situation in Haiti improved during the reporting period. The MINUSTAH troop increase authorized by resolution 1908 (2010) and enhanced operational activities contributed substantially to this development. However, the continued existence of a large number of camps of internally displaced persons and rampant cases of sexual and gender-based violence in these camps constitute security threats that should be addressed urgently. Women and girls should be protected and sexual offenders held accountable. Illicit drug trafficking through Haiti’s borders is having a negative effect on general development in the country and should be effectively tackled. Sustained international support is necessary to build the capacity of local law enforcement agencies to enable them to perform their constitutional duties, especially with regard to effective internal checks, border management and tackling the illegal weapons flow. On humanitarian issues, as observed by the Inter- Agency Standing Committee in its July report on the response to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, although Haiti’s relief operations have achieved many of the objectives, humanitarian needs, particularly for shelter, remain immense. A more comprehensive strategy is therefore needed to address the plight of internally displaced persons, provide humanitarian protection and shelter, and meet their basic needs, including health care, energy and education. Priority should be given to women and children. We welcome MINUSTAH’s collaborative efforts with the United Nations country team and international partners in working to strengthen the Government of Haiti’s capacity to govern. We commend the cash- and food-for-work projects, which have empowered over 150,000 people since the beginning of the year. We also commend the important role played by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, under the co-chairmanship of Prime Minister Bellerive and former United States President Bill Clinton, in channelling needed resources to the country. The timely disbursement of funds donated at the March 2010 international conference will not only enable the Government to implement its Action Plan towards Haiti’s full recovery, but will also facilitate full ownership of the reconstruction process by the Government. In this connection, Nigeria will, in the coming days, be presenting a check for $5 million in fulfilment of its pledge made during the March donor conference. Considering the crucial role MINUSTAH continues to play in Haiti, we support the renewal of its mandate for one more year.

I thank you, Sir, for convening today’s meeting. I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his briefing. The massive earthquake that hit Haiti in January this year dealt a heavy blow to the common efforts being made by Haiti, the United Nations and the broader international community. It is heartening to see, however, that eight months after the earthquake, the security situation in Haiti has remained generally calm, recovery and reconstruction efforts continue to be carried out smoothly, and the national Government is gradually coming back to life. In addition, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in November. We note with concern that the country is still facing multiple challenges and difficulties in the areas of security, national reconstruction and economic and social development. What is worth noting is the slow progress in restoring national capabilities, especially in the police, judicial and correctional systems. Indeed, in some areas, crime is on the rise. The period between now, through the November elections to the transfer of power next year will be a rather sensitive time for Haiti. We hope that the Government of Haiti, with the support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and regional organizations, will accelerate its strengthening of police and judicial capacities and remove hidden dangers in order to ensure that free, credible and fair elections can be held in a secure and stable environment. Protracted abject poverty and the lack of economic and social progress are the root causes of Haiti’s difficulty in achieving long-term security. The key to achieving long-term security in Haiti lies in making substantial progress in reconstruction and attaining the Millennium Development Goals. In China, we say that one man’s distress is a rallying cry for others to come to help. China, together with the international community, has provided assistance to the Government and the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. Reconstruction is a long-term, complex and arduous process. Therefore, the reconstruction plan needs the continued support and assistance of the international community. Accordingly, we expect the parties to fully respect the need for the Government and people of Haiti to take ownership of and bear the primary responsibility for the process and to take fully into account the country’s current conditions and requirements. The United Nations should, on the basis of the distribution of responsibilities, bring into full play the roles of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Development Programme; strengthen its cooperation with relevant regional organizations; and, at the appropriate time, consider the involvement of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. Over the past six years, MINUSTAH has played an important role in the maintenance of stability in Haiti. We appreciate the efforts made by Mr. Mulet, MINUSTAH and the rest of the United Nations personnel in very difficult conditions. While the situation in that country remains fragile, we support the continued presence of MINUSTAH. In turn, MINUSTAH should focus on fulfilling its mandate, which is the maintenance of security in Haiti, so as to ensure that its limited resources will achieve maximum results. We agree with the ideas outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446) and hope that, in connection with the security situation following the transfer of power next year, the Secretariat and MINUSTAH will carry out an assessment of the strength, composition, resources and requirements of the Mission.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his thorough briefing on recent developments in Haiti and for presenting the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2010/446). We welcome the statement of the Permanent Representative of Haiti, Mr. Mérorès. We share the major conclusions and assessments of the report. The political and socio-economic situation in Haiti after the earthquake remains unstable. The security situation, although calm on the outside, remains fragile. Serious challenges also remain, such as the presence of a large number of internally displaced persons, difficult living conditions, an increase in the activities of criminal gangs, and the weakness of law enforcement agencies. The preconditions exist for the emergence of social unrest, particularly in the context of the upcoming electoral campaign. However, thanks to the efforts of the leadership of the country and of the international community, the Haitians have managed to avoid the post-earthquake emergence of large-scale unrest and epidemics. Some progress has been achieved in preparing the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 28 November. It is our view that MINUSTAH will play an important role in ensuring security at the upcoming elections and providing technical assistance in their conduct. Moreover, the Mission should coordinate external assistance in organizing the vote, together with international and regional partners. We are pleased to note that the urgent humanitarian needs of the internally displaced citizens of Haiti have generally been met. However, it is still a subject of particular concern that about 1.3 million Haitians remain in camps for internally displaced persons. The major responsibility for the recovery of Haiti lies with the people of Haiti. In this regard, we welcome the fact that the Haitian Government has begun more actively to assume the lead functions in coordinating humanitarian and recovery work. The proof of this development was the establishment of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the ad hoc Presidential Commission on Resettlement. We appreciate the efforts of MINUSTAH and its head, Mr. Mulet, in discharging the Mission’s tasks. A significant increase in the size of the military and police components of the Mission has allowed it more reliably to provide security in camps for temporarily displaced persons and to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population. A serious destabilizing factor in Haiti is the drug trade. Unfortunately, after the earthquake, the drug transit routes were quickly restored. In this regard, we support the measures of the Mission to help the Haitians strengthen the guarding and patrolling of their borders. We welcome the comprehensive support given to Haiti by the countries of the region. We note the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, President Bill Clinton, to mobilize donor support for the country. We expect the Mission and the United Nations country team to soon prepare a comprehensive strategic framework programme as a basis for designing subsequent activities for the United Nations system to provide assistance to Haiti. We agree with the view expressed in the report that, following the elections in Haiti and the arrival of a new president and Government, a comprehensive assessment of the security situation will be necessary for the purposes of developing a plan to draw down the additional military and police personnel deployed to the Mission. Bearing in mind the scope of the tragedy that has hit Haiti, we support the Secretary-General’s call on the international community to continue to give comprehensive support to that State until full restoration of Haiti’s national potential.

At the outset, I would like to extend my appreciation to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mulet, head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), for his informative and comprehensive briefing. I also would like to express my respect for the men and women of MINUSTAH and the commitment and fortitude they have demonstrated in the difficult situation following the earthquake. I would also like to state Japan’s appreciation for the statement made by the Representative of Haiti. In addition, I welcome the appointment of the Governor-General of Canada, Ms. Michaëlle Jean, as Special Envoy for Haiti for UNESCO, and the fact that she will start her work in that role soon. I welcome the report of the Secretary-General on MINUSTAH issued this month (S/2010/446). As the report mentions, the most immediate challenge in Haiti is the organization of the presidential and legislative elections scheduled to take place on 28 November. Political stability is an essential component of the overall stabilization in Haiti, and these elections are a prerequisite for the achievement of political stability. In this regard, the elections must be implemented in a fair, transparent and secure manner and ensure the broad participation of the Haitian people. From that point of view, we encourage MINUSTAH, in collaboration with the international community, to provide the necessary technical, logistic and security assistance to the Government of Haiti for the smooth implementation of the elections. Japan would also like to cooperate with the Government of Haiti, MINUSTAH and the other international organizations towards the success of the elections. Japan commends MINUSTAH and the troop- and police-contributing countries on their success in maintaining relative calm in the security situation in Haiti. At the same time, we wish to express our concern regarding the occurrence of sexual violence and violent forced evictions in camps for internally displaced persons, the presence of escaped inmates from collapsed prisons, and the increased incidence of drug transshipment and kidnappings. In that connection, we welcome the fact that cooperation between Dominican and Haitian police has been improved under the auspices of MINUSTAH. Haiti cannot be reconstructed in the absence of a stable security situation. We therefore urge MINUSTAH to exert every effort to maintain a secure environment and to provide sufficient capacity-building support for the Haitian National Police. Japan also takes note of the ongoing activities for the provision by MINUSTAH of logistical support and technical expertise to rule of law institutions of the Haitian Government, in accordance with resolution 1927 (2010). We acknowledge as well the opinion of the Secretary-General that current troop and police levels should be maintained until the assessment of the security environment takes place after the installation of the new Government. The mandate of MINUSTAH will be considered for renewal in mid-October. Japan will support the extension of the mandate and will participate in the Security Council discussion on the matter in a constructive manner. The Government of Japan has dispatched approximately 330 personnel, comprising a Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (SDF) engineer squadron, and this SDF contingent has made a contribution to the reconstruction of Haiti by carrying out tasks such as removal of debris, dismantling of damaged buildings, repair of facilities in IDP camps and repair of roads on the border with the Dominican Republic. In addition, the Government of Japan has continued to fulfil its commitment to the people of Haiti through the provision of temporary housing, implementation of counter-infection measures, food distribution and the dispatch of disaster protection experts. The Government of Japan also recently decided to support border control capacity in Haiti by providing necessary equipment to police stations. I strongly believe that these activities will contribute to accelerating Haiti’s reconstruction process. More than eight months have passed since the catastrophe occurred, and we recognize that reconstruction efforts should be further accelerated, ensuring continuous provision of necessary humanitarian support to the Haitian people. There are high expectations of MINUSTAH in this regard, and we call on MINUSTAH to continue to utilize its maximum capacity, within its mandate, for Haiti’s reconstruction. We welcome the fact that the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission was established in April and that it has begun its work to play a role in coordinating the long-term reconstruction efforts. To realize Haiti’s reconstruction, continuous international involvement is essential. From that point of view, the Government of Japan, in close cooperation with the Government of Haiti, the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, MINUSTAH and the international community, will continue to provide support for the reconstruction of Haiti, drawing on its experience and knowledge as an earthquake-prone country and placing particular importance on the fields of education, medical care, employment and rule of law.

I would like to thank Mr. Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his comprehensive briefing, and the Permanent Representative of Haiti for his additional comments before the Council. Bosnia and Herzegovina takes positive note of the efforts of the Government of Haiti, which, with the steady assistance of the international community, is largely overcoming the immediate humanitarian and security challenges that Haiti has faced in the period after the earthquake. We commend the international community on its efforts and commitment to address the remaining challenges and help the people of Haiti to build a prosperous future. However, much more has to be done in order to address the fundamental consequences of the earthquake. Haiti still faces a grim reality, with hundreds of thousands of internally displaced (IDPs) and a fragile political, social and economic situation. In the coming period, which will be marked by extensive reconstruction efforts and presidential and legislative elections, it will be critical to ensure stability and security within the country. With regard to the forthcoming elections, both presidential and legislative, which, according to the calendar established by the Government, will be held on 28 November 2010, we urge the Government to do use all means at its disposal to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Only credible and legitimate elections will guarantee political stability in this critical period for the country. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has an important role to play in providing assistance to the Government of Haiti in organizing elections in accordance with Security Council resolution 1927 (2010). It is essential that MINUSTAH, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, continue to provide technical support to the Provisional Electoral Council. Bearing in mind that the elections also constitute a potential security challenge, the cooperation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police in the preparation of an integrated electoral logistics and security plan is commendable. The coordination role of MINUSTAH in the context of international assistance for the preparation of elections with other international stakeholders will be essential. Taking into account pre-existing conditions in Haiti and the magnitude of the earthquake, it is fundamental to ensure that the rebuilding of State institutions takes place. Rebuilding and strengthening the security sector and the judicial and penal system is a basic precondition for stable and secure environment. Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the view that without a secure environment there can be no substantial recovery and development. MINUSTAH’s assistance to the Haitian National Police has played an important role in providing security and is of utmost importance. The cooperation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police in providing the widest possible coverage for camps for internally displaced persons and in addressing violence against women and children is commendable. With regard to the judicial and penal system we support MINUSTAH’s efforts to provide assistance to the Government of Haiti with respect to those institutions, which are crucial for the rule of law. We share the Secretary-General’s view that a major challenge to the Government of Haiti is the sustainable resettlement of displaced persons. A decisive commitment by the Government and assistance of the international community in this regard will be crucial in order to find a solution for this very complex and delicate problem, which has an impact on many other issues and could generate serious problems if it remains unresolved. Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the establishment of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC) which will coordinate medium- and long-term reconstruction in Haiti. It is crucial that donors continue their commitment to Haiti. In this context, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, former United States President Clinton, for his efforts in that regard. In these challenging times, the United Nations and MINUSTAH have played a central role in Haiti. It is vital that the partnership between Haitian people and the United Nations be further foster in order to preserve positive developments and to meet the remaining challenges. Only joint and timely efforts by the United Nations and the Government of Haiti will bring tangible results and secure a better future for this proud nation. Let me in conclusion, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, commend Special Representative Mulet and United Nations and MINUSTAH personnel for their tireless efforts and the important work they have carried out to date.

I thank Mr. Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing on the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2010/446). My thanks go also to the Permanent Representative of Haiti for his statement. We are pleased that the Haitian Government has decided to hold elections on 28 November, and we note that the organization of these elections is possible from a technical standpoint. We welcome the measures undertaken by the Government, including appropriate organizational decrees, the registration of parties wishing to stand in the elections, and other relevant steps. We also welcome the role of MINUSTAH in providing security assistance to Haiti, participating in recovery efforts following the earthquake pursuant to resolution 1908 (2010), and providing electoral assistance in accordance with resolution 1927 (2010). We thank the donor countries for covering the $29-million cost of the elections and the countries contributing troops to the Mission, and call for the strengthening of its police contingent, which now numbers some 3,000 officers, although resolution 1927 (2010) authorizes 4,300. A strengthened police force will enhance the Mission’s ability to protect refugees and displaced persons and to assist the Haitian National Police. We welcome the stabilization of the security situation following the earthquake, which could have unleashed social upheaval. However, security remains fragile owing to the increase in mafia-type activities following the escape of prisoners after the earthquake; in violence, including armed aggressions, sexual violence and others; and in drug trafficking, which does not seem to have been affected by the earthquake. We call for the strengthening of the rule of law and the reform and promotion of justice. We are alarmed by the deteriorating humanitarian situation, especially in the refugee camps, where 1.3 million people are living in 1,300 camps. What makes their situation even more tragic is the lack of a plan for building permanent shelters in the near future. We call on donors to honour the pledges they made at the March donors conference as soon as possible. Haiti has to date received only $506 million — barely 19 per cent of the funds pledged. We reaffirm the importance of the ownership of the Haitian Government and people, and hope that Haiti will be able to play a lead role in the recovery process.

I wish at the outset to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his excellent briefing on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report (S/2010/466) and for all his untiring efforts at the head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I should also like to thank all the United Nations staff in Haiti for their outstanding work in very difficult conditions. We owe them all the support they require. I also wish to thank the Permanent Representative of Haiti for his presence here today. We welcome the efforts of his Government to ensure political, economic and social stability in his country. Austria associates itself with the statement to be made shortly by the representative of the European Union. I wish to add the following points on behalf of my delegation. Since our last debate on Haiti in the Council (see S/PV.6303), much progress has been made on the ground. We knew that the current period was going to be one of high risk, in which the objectives of security and protection would have to be pursued as vigorously as the organization of the elections and the reconstruction of the country. I dare say that these twin objectives have met with success so far. Austria wishes to emphasize in particular the importance of the efforts of MINUSTAH in the areas of the rule of law and the protection of civilians, especially women and children. Austria welcomes the measures taken by MINUSTAH, in close cooperation with the Haitian National Police, to protect internally displaced persons in the camps. The increase in police staffing authorized by the Council in resolution 1927 (2010) has had the desired outcome. All of MINUSTAH’s operating procedures have been reviewed in order to make them more effective in addressing sexual violence, which we welcome. Austria also recognizes MINUSTAH’s important activities to assist the Government of Haiti in preparing for and holding the presidential and legislative elections, and in coordinating electoral assistance. We recognize that, despite the significant progress that has been made to date, much remains to be done. We endorse the Secretary-General’s assessment that the police and military contingents of MINUSTAH will need to be maintained at their current level until an evaluation of the security situation can be made following the inauguration of the new President and Government. The elections must be conducted credibly, fairly and legitimately in order to ensure the further stabilization and reconstruction of the country. Austria reiterates the importance of the participation of Haitian women in the electoral process, and hopes that it will continue to be encouraged and promoted. With respect to measures to protect the most vulnerable, efforts must be pursued tirelessly and even strengthened. We share the Secretary-General’s opinion that a solid protective environment must be established in Haiti, and we hope that the needs of displaced children and the fight against their exploitation and trafficking will continue to be given special attention in protection activities. In that respect, we should like to know more about the protection of civilians strategy, which we understand is being updated by MINUSTAH. We would be grateful to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for providing further information on the activities he foresees for that strategy. It will be important, in addition to the measures already undertaken to combat sexual violence, to fine- tune a comprehensive strategy to prevent sexual violence and a package of support measures for the victims. We therefore support the Secretary-General’s proposal that the Ministry of Justice and Public Security be assisted in establishing police substations assigned to assist the victims of sexual violence. It is equally urgent to improve current conditions in Haitian prisons in order to reduce the prison population and to limit excessive pre-trial detention. For its part, Austria has mobilized almost $17 million in contributions and humanitarian assistance for immediate aid and reconstruction. A portion of that sum has been made available to the United Nations family, the International Committee of the Red Cross and humanitarian non-governmental organizations in Austria. Our citizens have also donated almost $45 million to the victims in Haiti. I wish to conclude by assuring the Government and people of Haiti that the international community will remain with them in their effort to build the new Haiti that is beginning to take shape.

I thank you, Sir, for organizing this debate, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his comprehensive and helpful briefing. I also thank the Permanent Representative of Haiti for his statement. We commend the Special Envoy, President Clinton, the Special Representative to the Secretary- General and the staff of MINUSTAH for their efforts in supporting the Government and the people of Haiti in the delivery of basic services, disaster recovery and harmonizing critically needed international support in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. We salute the Government and the people of Haiti for their remarkable resilience. We are encouraged to note that the immediate humanitarian needs of the displaced population in Port-au-Prince and in the regions have been largely addressed. We commend the international community for the generous support given and pledged to assist Haiti. However, we recognize that significant challenges still remain. For example, the country still faces the challenge of resettling an estimated 1.3 million displaced people and rebuilding infrastructure. It is therefore important that the pledges made be honoured in order to help the Government of Haiti bridge the gaps. In this regard, we welcome the establishment of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, which will play a central role in coordinating medium- and long-term reconstruction efforts. At this critical phase of recovery and reconstruction, we would like to emphasize the importance of effective coordination among the United Nations agencies and international actors. The role of the Government remains central, and it is important that all concerned work closely with it. The presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 28 November will be a significant milestone for Haiti’s stability. It is important to ensure that they are peaceful and credible. In this regard, we welcome the support extended by international partners and the collaboration between MINUSTAH and the United Nations Development Programme in providing technical support and assistance to the Provisional Electoral Commission. One of the most pressing needs at this time remains the provision of shelter and housing, and the sustainable resettlement of displaced persons to permanent accommodation. This is a multifaceted challenge that will require adequate planning and a comprehensive strategy. We note that, although the security situation in the country has remained generally calm, significant threats still prevail, including from former gang leaders who escaped from prison. We are also concerned with the underlying problem of drug transshipment through Haiti, which, if unchecked, will negatively affect stability in the country. The strengthening of security and of rule-of-law institutions must be supported in order to tackle these threats. We commend MINUSTAH for its support of Government efforts to address drug trafficking through increased land and maritime patrols, air surveillance and border management. Finally, we salute the men and women of MINUSTAH, who, despite the difficulties and the tragedy that befell them, have continued to play an indispensable role in maintaining a secure and stable environment.

I would like to begin by expressing our gratitude to Mr. Mulet and the personnel of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for their ongoing efforts in Haiti. The Mission continues to make an outstanding contribution to alleviating the hardships Haiti has suffered since the earthquake of January this year. As we look to the Mission’s immediate future, we welcome the preparatory measures currently being taken ahead of November’s presidential and legislative elections, noting in particular the importance of the integrated logistics and security plan being devised by MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police. Haitian involvement is, of course, central to this process; above all, we underline the need for all Haitian parties to continue to demonstrate their commitment to holding free, fair and transparent elections. The view of the United Kingdom is that the primary focus of all United Nations peacekeeping operations, including MINUSTAH, should remain the provision and maintenance of a peaceful and secure environment. As a consequence, peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions should not make a lasting, long- term commitment to undertaking reconstruction work. The Security Council has adjusted the Mission’s strength to include additional engineering contingents. This should be on the understanding that those personnel actively pursue local capacity-building initiatives in tandem with their recovery work. MINUSTAH’s personnel must work alongside the Haitian people and help build their capacity to eventually take on this reconstruction work. We note with concern the threat that the current hurricane season poses for the many Haitians still living in substandard accommodation. In this regard, MINUSTAH’s disaster contingency planning is of vital importance. We hope that this contingency planning is developed, where possible, alongside the Haitian authorities, and that provision is made for future Haitian ownership, due to the unfortunate fact that severe weather risks will be a regular threat to Haiti. We are pleased to hear of the recent recruitment of 900 Haitian National Police (HNP) trainees and look forward to continuing HNP recruitment. The HNP’s current lack of capacity is having a worrying impact on the safety and security of vulnerable Haitians, including women and children. In this regard, we welcome the increased capacity of the United Nations police to focus on protecting internally displaced persons, and the efforts of the United Nations and the Government of Haiti in producing a comprehensive sexual and gender-based violence operations plan. The HNP must get to a position where MINUSTAH’s troops are no longer relied on as the main providers of security in Haiti. MINUSTAH, for its part, must continue to do its utmost to aid the development of local policing capabilities. The rehabilitation of the Haitian corrections system has also rightly been identified as a key element in the recovery process, and we are pleased to see that donors have channelled some of their efforts into making valuable contributions and progress in this important area. This serves to underline the continuing importance of the role of the international donor community in helping to re-establish Haiti’s institutions and to invigorate its economy. In this regard, we commend the ongoing work of Prime Minister Bellerive and former President Clinton as co- Chairs of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. The maintenance of peace and security, as carried out by MINUSTAH’s very capable peacekeeping troops, is only one of the many strands that contribute to the conditions necessary for successful recovery in Haiti. Once MINUSTAH’s surge period has reached its conclusion, in the next 12 months or so, we would envisage the longer-term reconstruction work shifting from a military peacekeeping operation to a mainly civilian effort. The United Kingdom will continue to give MINUSTAH its full backing during this crucial phase.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Turkey. I would first like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2010/446), and his Special Representative, Edmond Mulet, and Ambassador Mérorès for their comprehensive briefings. Let me also add our sincere gratitude for the strong leadership Mr. Mulet displays at the helm of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Indeed, Mr. Mulet and his staff are doing a most commendable job in support of the Haitian people and Government. Nine months have passed since tragedy struck Haiti once again, but the enormous suffering it has caused in Haiti is still vividly remembered in our minds and hearts. Indeed, the magnitude of the earthquake and the loss of human life and infrastructural damage it caused are neither forgettable nor easily surmountable. Hence, we are glad to learn that the immediate humanitarian needs of the displaced population have been addressed to a large extent, although there remains much more to be done. In particular, the number of displaced persons is quite high, and a sustainable resettlement plan has to be implemented to protect this vulnerable group, especially women and children. That having been said, it is quite admirable that the security situation has remained relatively calm, although there seems to be a slight increase in criminal activities such as drug trafficking. Haitians continue to teach us important lessons of humility and humanity. However, due to the high number of displaced persons living in precarious conditions, we have to remain vigilant so that the security situation does not deteriorate in a way that would endanger the ongoing humanitarian assistance and stabilization efforts. In this context, MINUSTAH certainly has an important role to play, and there is still room to increase the number of troops and police officers serving within the Mission to reach the levels authorized by resolutions 1908 (2010) and 1927 (2010). MINUSTAH should also keep on building the capacity of the Haitian National Police, but no matter who has the primary responsibility, we cannot expect security to be maintained through military and police means alone. Political and institutional stability are equally important, if not more so. Hence, the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 November will be crucial for the future of the country. Haitians cannot live forever in transitional periods where uncertainty prevails and short-term actions are taken to meet urgent needs. They need and deserve a strong Government and a functioning parliament that will provide long-term stability. Thus, MINUSTAH should continue to help the Haitian authorities in the preparation of the elections and provide technical, security and logistical support to the Government and the Provisional Electoral Council. Along with political and institutional stability, we should also not forget long-term recovery and development activities. The international community has responded quickly and quite effectively to the emergency situation in Haiti, but we have to do even better in coordinating financial assistance from donors, technical support from United Nations agencies and MINUSTAH and the reconstruction plans of the Government. Also, the pledges made at the donor’s conference should be made readily available whenever and wherever they are needed, with a long-term commitment. In conclusion, the international community, including MINUSTAH and the Haitian authorities, has so far responded well to the challenges compounded by the earthquake. But there is a need — and there is room — to do better. Turkey remains ready to support all efforts in that direction. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

On behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Peru, the United States and my country, Uruguay, my delegation would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Turkey for having taken the initiative to organize this timely debate on the situation in Haiti, as laid out in the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). This debate highlights, once again, the continued strong commitment of the Security Council and the international community as a whole to the stabilization process in Haiti. As coordinator of the Group of Friends of Haiti, I would like to convey the Group’s greetings to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Edmond Mulet, and to thank him for his comprehensive and informative briefing today. I would make particular mention of his extraordinary service in leading United Nations efforts in Haiti since the tragic earthquake of 12 January. I want to thank him and all the personnel of MINUSTAH for their dedication and selfless sacrifice. Allow me also to thank the Permanent Representative of Haiti, Ambassador Léo Mérorès, for his valuable briefing this morning. Before sharing with the members of the Security Council the Group’s views on the issues underlined by the Secretary-General in his most recent report, let me reaffirm, once again, the Group’s continued support to the Government and people of Haiti as they rebuild their country, build peace and stability and promote recovery and sustainable development. The most recent report of the Secretary-General, dated 1 September 2010, highlights the progress made in the implementation of MINUSTAH’s mandate, as set out in Security Council resolutions 1892 (2009), 1908 (2010) and 1927 (2010). It also provides a framework for the evolution of the Mission over the coming year, including through the identification of milestones with respect to the fulfilment of the mandate of MINUSTAH. As regards political issues, our Group shares the Secretary-General’s assessment that Haiti is now entering a period of change that will be critical to its future political stability. The Group of Friends of Haiti stresses the importance of holding peaceful and credible presidential and legislative elections leading to the election of a President and Government with a clear and firm mandate to effectively lead the country’s reconstruction process. The Group of Friends of Haiti welcomes the activities in support of Haiti’s recovery and development undertaken by MINUSTAH in close cooperation with the United Nations country team during the reporting period. The Group also welcomes the establishment of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission to coordinate and oversee recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country. As the report points out, to date, of the total funds pledged for 2010, 18.9 per cent, or approximately $506 million, has been disbursed, and an additional 19.5 per cent, or $523 million, has been committed. In spite of some progress in the disbursement of pledges made at the international donors conference held in March, the Group of Friends of Haiti urges donors to fulfil their pledges in a timely manner in order to allow Haiti to meet its immediate needs and lay the foundations for sustainable economic and social development. The Group of Friends of Haiti also urges donors to continue to help the Haitian Government to strengthen its capacity to implement its Action Plan and thereby take ownership of the reconstruction process, including through the support of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. The Group of Friends of Haiti reiterates the importance of MINUSTAH’s role in providing logistical support and technical expertise to assist the Government of Haiti to build the capacity of its rule of law institutions and to contribute to the implementation of its strategy for the resettlement of displaced persons. At the same time, the Group notes the importance of the swift implementation of those measures, given their temporary nature and the fact that they will be phased out gradually as the country’s national capacity grows. Finally, the Group of Friends of Haiti stresses the need to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH in order to enable that stabilization Mission to continue to discharge its responsibilities within the current environment. The Group of Friends of Haiti also shares the Secretary-General’s view that current troop and police levels need to be maintained until an assessment of the security environment is conducted following the installation of a new President and Government. In that regard, in the coming days the Group will submit a new draft resolution on the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate for the consideration of the Security Council.

I now give the floor to Mr. Peter Schwaiger, deputy head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for inviting the European Union to participate in today’s debate. I welcome the important statements made this morning by His Excellency Mr. Léo Mérorès, Permanent Representative of Haiti, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mulet. The candidate country of Turkey; the countries members of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this statement. I shall now read out an abridged version of the European Union’s statement. The full statement will be distributed in hard copy. I should like to emphasize three elements that seem to me to be crucial: first, the future of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH); secondly, the contribution of the European Union and its commitment in the long-term; and, thirdly, coordination among contributors. Before I turn to those three points, allow me to commend Mr. Mulet and his team for the quality of the report before us (S/2010/446) and for the outstanding work done to date by MINUSTAH. On behalf of the European Union, I should like to pay sincere and heartfelt tribute to all United Nations staff who have worked tirelessly since the tragedy in Haiti. Haiti is entering a decisive stage towards its future stability and the success of its reconstruction. Without stability, all of our reconstruction efforts will be in vain. The greatest challenge in the short term will be the holding of free and transparent elections. A proper transfer of power to the new authorities and the strengthening of institutions to implement and enforce the rule of law and provide greater protection to displaced persons and vulnerable groups are also urgent priorities. MINUSTAH continues to have a major role to play in that regard. The European Union strongly welcomes the recommendations of the Secretary-General with regard to extending the Mission’s mandate and maintaining the current force level of military and security personnel. Only after elections are held and a full report of needs is made will we be able to reassess the situation with regard to staffing levels and to reconsider MINUSTAH’s tasks in order to ensure a gradual and realistic transfer of responsibilities. Likewise, the European Union fully endorses the strategy put forward with regard to protecting displaced persons, especially women and children. In that regard, the European Union underscores the importance of the steps taken by MINUSTAH, in close cooperation with the Haitian National Police, to address sexual and gender-based violence and the grave violations of the rights of children. Short- and long-term reconstruction will be a determining factor in the country’s social stability. At the international donors conference held in New York, the European Union and its member States committed themselves to contributing €1.235 billion to Haiti’s Action Plan, of which €460 million will come directly from the European Union’s budget. I have the pleasure to announce to the Council today that the latter figure has been reviewed and increased to €522 million, making the European Union one of the largest donors. Of that amount, the European Commission has already mobilized €307 million and is working tirelessly to mobilize the entire amount, while keeping in mind our Haitian partners’ capacity to absorb it. We are also providing budgetary support in the amount of almost €60 million to cover current expenditures in the areas of health, education and security, as well as to restore the Government’s capacities in the wake of the disaster. In addition, we are prepared to provide financial support for the holding of elections with about €5 million from the European Union’s budget, as well as to contribute to a secure environment by maintaining the police forces we have already deployed, in particular Italian carabinieri forces and French gendarmes. Only if elections are carried out legitimately and in a transparent manner will the results be acknowledged and accepted by all and the country’s social and political stability maintained. On the humanitarian front, the European Union will also remain committed to responding to the urgent needs of victims throughout 2011. Lastly, the European Union is currently preparing a new strategic cooperation document, in close coordination with the Haitian Government, with a view to establishing a good example of effectiveness for our assistance, based on a clear division of labour, and to resolutely making a contribution to the country’s future. Allow me to finish with a third element that is equally central to us: the need for coordination among donors. In that regard, the European Union welcomes the establishment of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and commits itself to full participation in its work. The idea is clearly not to create an extra administrative and bureaucratic layer, but to truly strengthen local capacities and gain quick results, while ensuring monitoring and follow-up by the relevant ministries. In that context, the European Union advocates closer coordination between the Commission and the Haitian ministries, with a view to better aligning reconstruction with State sectoral strategies and the Haitian people’s ownership of the reconstruction. That link should also help strengthen the capacities of the Haitian administration, which was severely struck by the earthquake. In conclusion, our role, as the international community, is to help the country rebuild its future for the better on the basis of the action plan that was submitted to us on 31 March. Four months later, the European Union has begun to translate its promises into tangible reality, working closely with the Haitian Government and the United Nations family.

I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

I would first like to thank you, Mr. President, for taking the initiative to organize this meeting. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mulet, and to thank him and his team for their extraordinary work in Haiti. Canada would also like to thank the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the funds and programmes of the Organization for the exceptional work they are doing. Haiti continues to be one of Canada’s top foreign policy priorities. Our engagement in Haiti emphasizes prosperity, security and democratic governance. Haiti is the leading recipient of Canadian development assistance in the Americas and the second worldwide. This support was greatly strengthened in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake. In that context, Canada announced a contribution of $400 million for reconstruction at the New York conference in March and deployed additional personnel to MINUSTAH. Canada continues to work together with the Haitian Government and the international community. The principles guiding that work are those of the Montreal Conference on Haiti: ownership, coordination, sustainability, effectiveness, inclusiveness and accountability. One of the major challenge Haitians will soon have to face is that of the upcoming presidential and legislative elections, to be held on 28 November. Canada supports the Haitian people, who want transparent and inclusive elections. Strong democratic institutions and good governance, guided by capable leaders who have the trust of the people, are essential in order to ensure the success of reconstruction in Haiti. Canada also supports the electoral observation missions of the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community, which demonstrate unparalleled hemispheric solidarity with Haiti — a solidarity that serves as a true lever of change by helping the Haitian people in their development. Although living conditions for many Haitians are still precarious, it is important to underscore that, in large part, most of the immediate humanitarian needs were met. Reconstruction and development efforts are also moving ahead. But the Government of Haiti and its international partners will have to deal with some considerable challenges, such as land issues, in order to continue on that path. We are pleased, however, to be able to count on the leadership of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the United Nations Special Envoy. Canada encourages donors to align their efforts with the Interim Commission so as to facilitate coordination, avoid duplication and ensure that the capacity exists to absorb funds on the ground. But as the Secretary- General underscores in his latest report on MINUSTAH (S/2010/446), consolidating these gains will depend, in large part, on sustained support from the international community, including through MINUSTAH. In the light of the Secretary-General’s most recent report and in anticipation of the renewal of the Mission’s mandate in October, Canada stresses to the Council that we support the Secretary-General’s cautious approach of maintaining Mission personnel at their current level until the security environment has been assessed following the inauguration of the new President and the new Government. We will be especially interested in the Secretary-General’s recommendations on any eventual need to make changes to the composition of surge resources. The Secretary-General also underscores the authority given to MINUSTAH to provide direct logistical support and technical expertise to Haitian officials, although this is temporary. Because the earthquake dealt a serious blow to the country’s bureaucracy and State infrastructure, it will be important to allow MINUSTAH to continue to play that role until other support mechanisms can take over. This temporary direct support to Haitian authorities must be part of a process of constructive cooperation with the host Government that seeks, through training and mentoring, to build that Government’s capacity to maintain stability and deliver services to its citizens. (spoke in English) Canada would also like to stress the importance it places on the continuation of MINUSTAH’s work to strengthen Haiti’s justice and security systems in the areas of the police, penitentiary, border and correction services. For example, we must revisit efforts to reform the national police. We recall that the Secretary- General presented a consolidation plan in his report last year (S/2009/439). It is important that MINUSTAH be able to continue to identify and pursue objectives in those areas based on that plan, in cooperation with Haitian partners. In a post-quake context, we must re-examine challenges such as the reform of the Haitian National Police. Any progress in the legal and security realms will help reconstruction and development in Haiti and is a necessary framework in which to hold the upcoming elections. In that regard, Canada is pleased to have significantly increased its personnel deployed to MINUSTAH, in addition to having increased by $10 million funds that will be used to rebuild key infrastructure of the judicial system and the National Police. To conclude, Canada will continue to work with our partners to ensure that MINUSTAH continues to assist Haiti on the path to reconstruction.

I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

My delegation welcomes your initiative to convene this open debate today, as well as the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Colombia reaffirms its commitment to the international efforts to assist Haiti both in the recovery and reconstruction phases. The Government of Colombia is aware that the magnitude of the tragedy that affected Haitian society requires long-term coordinated action beyond the emergency humanitarian assistance stage. I wish to highlight the Security Council’s adoption of resolution 1927 (2010), which stresses the leading role of Haiti’s Government in the recovery, reconstruction and stabilization process, and underlines the need for the increased coordination of the efforts of all United Nations entities and, in general, all other organizations committed to assisting Haiti’s recovery. Colombia welcomes the Council’s decision to give MINUSTAH a leading role in coordinating international electoral assistance to support the Haitian Government in conducting the presidential and legislative elections that will take place on 28 November. My country supports efforts to ensure that this democratic process will be held in a free, impartial and inclusive manner. Despite progress made in delivering emergency humanitarian assistance and early recovery activities, the fundamental consequences of the earthquake will require sustained international commitment. My Government congratulates the Office of the Special Envoy for its work to ensure coherence across United Nations operations in Haiti and to persuade donors and non-governmental organizations channel resources for direct budget support for the Government of Haiti. For its part, Colombia has been coordinating efforts with the Haitian Government and community and with other States and organizations working on the island. The deployment of the Government of Colombia, with the support of civil society and the private sector, to provide humanitarian aid to Haiti was very broad. For Colombia, complementing emergency and stabilization actions with cooperation and technical assistance is of the utmost importance in strengthening and developing the institutional capacities of the country. My country continues to move towards the materialization of its proposal to conduct a pilot intervention in the town of Cabaret, adjacent to Port- au-Prince. Based on previous experience in managing natural disasters, the proposal would implement an integrated multisectoral development model that would not only rebuild affected infrastructure, but at the same time target economic and social development and strengthen governance, peace and security with the participation of the affected population and authorities. Strengthening institutional architecture in Haiti is as important as contributing to its physical reconstruction. Strengthening the Haitian National Police is a step in the right direction and a response to current challenges, in particular those of protecting displaced persons and vulnerable groups, fighting crime and managing the borders. Colombia recently expanded the number of police officers participating in MINUSTAH, including 34 police specialists in the fight against transnational organized crime who are currently in the field. Along those same lines, holding credible and legitimate presidential and legislative elections will grant the new Government a clear and uncontested mandate to lead the reconstruction process, and contribute to the political stability necessary for recovery and renewed economic and social development. The international community must honour its commitment to supporting the electoral process. The reconstruction of Haiti is a long-term project that will require strong leadership from the Government and sustained support from the international community. The success of MINUSTAH and its subsequent withdrawal will depend on progress in the reconstruction and restoration of infrastructure and the State’s capacities to ensure lasting stability. My delegation wishes to send a message of solidarity to the Government and people of Haiti and to express its recognition of their ability to overcome this devastating disaster and to advance in the implementation of the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development, which identifies priority areas for progress in the recovery and development of the country. Our task is to welcome the Action Plan as the road map to guide all actions in the field.

I now give the floor to the representative of Peru.

My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the Uruguayan representative on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, and congratulates the Security Council for the timely organization of this open debate on the situation in Haiti, especially as we prepare to debate the need to renew the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We also welcome the report of the Secretary-General in document S/2010/446 and the very comprehensive briefing of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Haiti, Mr. Edmond Mulet, whom we welcome and thank for his magnificent work in Haiti. As noted by the Uruguayan delegation, this debate demonstrates the commitment of the Council and the international community to the reconstruction process in Haiti, and gives us an opportunity to exchange opinions on the report and on how to evaluate the Mission and our participation in it. In the light of the observations of the Secretary- General in his report, my delegation would like to stress two aspects of the report in particular that we consider essential. Despite the progress made in Haiti’s reconstruction through the efforts of MINUSTAH, the Government of Haiti and other United Nations agencies, serious challenges and difficulties remain that could threaten the progress made so far in the political, socio-economic and security sectors. We are facing an extremely fragile situation that must be addressed comprehensively through development and the strengthening of national capacities and security. The Secretary-General has stressed the problem of resettling displaced persons and those living in camps, highlighting underlying social and economic problems that cannot and must not be underestimated. Any effort to address the various problems should be coordinated and aligned with national strategies and national priorities, as established in the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti. In that context and without neglecting security concerns, complementary efforts to establish a solid basis for Haiti’s economic recovery and growth and sustainable development must be increased. Accordingly, the work undertaken to engage and include all local public and private stakeholders is highly important, and we congratulate the Government of Haiti for its efforts. My delegation has expressed its conviction of the importance of establishing a strategic alliance between the public and private sectors in Haiti that could contribute to strengthening institutions in that sister nation while guaranteeing its stability, security and sustainable development. It is also clear from the report of the Secretary- General that it is crucial that cooperation be continued if the institutional capacity of the Government of Haiti is to be restored, improved and strengthened throughout the country. It is therefore essential to encourage and support constitutional reform and the electoral process as indispensable bases for solid governability. In order to respond to these challenges in the best way possible, it is necessary for MINUSTAH to pursue its work. We thus consider that its mandate should be renewed and that the greatest support possible given for its activities by the international community. Along these lines, Peru, aware of the need to strengthen the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, has increased its troop contribution by another 150 soldiers to cooperate in MINUSTAH’s work. Finally, I would like to reiterate that Peru is firmly and steadfastly committed to strengthening the recovery, stability and development of Haiti.

I call on the representative of Chile.

Mr. President, I would like to thank you first of all for convening this debate on the situation in Haiti, a brother country that in recent months has had to respond to the great challenges posed by the devastating earthquake it suffered in January. I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his comprehensive briefing and for the huge work he and his team have been carrying out in Haiti. I thank him very much. We would also like to thank Ambassador Mérorès of Haiti for outlining his Government’s view on the main challenges that it faces. With special gratitude, Chile associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, and takes this opportunity to reaffirm our ties with Haiti and its efforts at reconstruction, peacebuilding and long-term development. Chile’s participation in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) constitutes an expression of our resolute commitment to multilateralism in a concerted response of the international community represented in the major forum of the United Nations. It is also an expression of the importance of that region to our foreign policy. As noted in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446), one of the main challenges facing Haiti will be the holding of presidential and legislative elections in November. We trust that peaceful elections will contribute to the consolidation of an atmosphere of political stability. The full validity of the democratic system and the strengthening of the rule of law will no doubt constitute essential elements in the success of the recovery and long-term development efforts being carried out in the country. We take this opportunity to recognize the important work of MINUSTAH in such areas as the protection of vulnerable groups, including women and children, community violence reduction and enhanced support for State institutions, inter alia. We also voice our support for the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate. We believe that attention should be paid to the link between security and development because the consolidation of sustainable security conditions will depend in no small measure on the existence of opportunities and better living conditions for the population. We value the contributions that the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti can offer on this matter. All international efforts must be aligned with definitions set forth by the Government of Haiti in line with the principle of national ownership of the country’s reconstruction and long-term development. We take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of the Haitian Government in its response in long-term reconstruction and development processes. Chile favours direct action to support Haitian women, whose ability to play a central role will make a huge contribution to the reconstruction process. We support the work carried out by MINUSTAH with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Rights and local authorities, including the provision of legal assistance to women and young people who are victims of violence. In accordance with our national plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), we reiterate the importance of developing sustainable initiatives that will reinforce and promote the involvement of women in MINUSTAH’s activities.

I call on the representative of Argentina.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September, and to express my thanks for the opportunity to participate in this meeting on the current situation in Haiti and the challenges facing the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the light of the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/446). I would also like to thank his intermediary, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for his briefing and, above all, for his ongoing laudable work as head of MINUSTAH. I also thank Ambassador Léo Mérorès for his briefing this morning. My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, so I would only like to add a few additional comments. In that regard, let me reiterate the firm commitment of Argentina to Haiti — a commitment that has endured for 16 years and is expressed today by our continued participation in MINUSTAH. Following the earthquake in January, we have deployed to the Mission an additional infantry company of 150 military personnel to assist in the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Haitian population. We endorse the terms of the reconfiguration of the mandate of the Mission authorized by this Council in resolutions 1908 (2010) and 1927 (2010), and share the view expressed by the Secretary-General in his report that the best time to assess the advisability of modifying the current mandate and troop level of the Mission will be after the legislative and presidential elections in November and the installation of the new president and Government. Similarly, my delegation also shares the view of the Secretary-General that Haiti, under the leadership of the Haitian Government and with international support, has successfully avoided a second-wave disaster of epidemics or social unrest. We believe that MINUSTAH’s presence was a decisive stabilization factor in that regard. The political and economic situation in Haiti remains complex as a result of the physical destruction and great loss of institutional capacity caused by the earthquake. The tragedy undid the progress that has been made in many areas in Haiti. It has resulted in the renewed commitment of the international community to rebuilding and strengthening the Republic of Haiti. In these circumstances and in order contribute to reconstruction efforts, we are working with Peru to provide MINUSTAH with the José de San Martín combined engineering company. Let me also recall that, out of its concern for the development of State institutional capacity in Haiti, Argentina actively engaged in regional police cooperation so that Haiti could take full responsibility for internal security in the not-too-distant future. Following a number of preparatory meetings, in 2009 Argentina and Chile issued an assessment report and plan of action on police cooperation with Haiti, with a view to coordinating, institutionalizing and assessing the educational and professional training to be offered to the Haitian National Police. This cooperation was suspended owing to earthquakes in both Haiti and Chile, but the initiative will resume when the Haitian Government completes an updated a report setting out priorities and needs in this area. I note that, as a participant in the donors’ conference that took place on 31 March, Argentina pledged $16 million as its share of the $100 million contribution pledged by the countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). These funds have already been made available to the UNASUR Secretary General to carry out cooperation projects to be identified at Port-au-Prince through the UNASUR technical secretariat; they will relate to food security, risk-prevention and averting natural disasters and building Haitian State capacity. We pledged a further $1 million for cooperation activities and programmes that Argentina caries out in Haiti through the United Nations Development Programme, principally on food security and institution-building. My delegation believes that MINUSTAH remains a decisive factor in sustainably establishing a secure and stable environment in Haiti, as the Secretary- General observes in his report. That is why we believe it is essential that the Mission’s mandate be extended. I conclude by recalling that in Haiti we are working in the hope that the day will come when the MINUSTAH mandate has been fulfilled and that the presence of the United Nations and the international community will no longer be needed because Haitians are able to shoulder full responsibility for their economic and social development. To attain that goal, it is important to continue to work to build the institutional capacity of the Haitian Government, in accordance with national priorities and in a framework of appropriate United Nations coordination of international assistance.

I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.

First, I should like to thank Mr. Mulet for his comprehensive briefing today. As a sign of Norway’s commitment, we are nominating a team of five police officers with expertise in sexual and gender-based violence to serve in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). This is our first specialized team to a United Nations mission, reflecting the great importance that Norway places on contributing to the concrete work of United Nations missions against sexual violence. We commend MINUSTAH’s support to the Haitian authorities in setting up community police substations that can assist victims of sexual and gender-based violence in camps for internally displaced persons and in crime-prone areas. The potential for social unrest prevails. One must look for solutions that permit the United Nations to engage in areas of Port-au-Prince that are rated as not secure. Norway commends the work done by the community violence reduction programme and recommends the extension of the programme. Norway clearly supports MINUSTAH’s measures to address sexual and gender-based violence, including training and the establishment of a referral system and mechanisms for reporting and data collection. The Inter- Agency Standing Committee’s Guidelines for Gender- based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings should inform the implementation of these measures. Norway encourages MINUSTAH and other relevant international bodies, including the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, to take fully into account the recommendations issued by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in her statement to the Human Rights Council on 11 June 2010. We join the High Commissioner in calling for all reconstruction programmes and projects to adopt a human-rights- based approach, including during tender processes. A gender-based approach must be applied to all relief and reconstruction efforts. Norway has channelled a substantial part of our support through the Multi-donor Trust Fund, including as budgetary support. The Norwegian contribution to the Fund of $33 million has been disbursed. We endorse the Secretary-General’s call for more of the international support and for budgetary support to be channelled through the Fund, thus supporting the Government’s own reconstruction efforts. While there are positive developments in relation to the preparations for presidential and legislative elections, we are concerned about shortcomings in the voter registration process. This may have a negative impact on the elections and their legitimacy. The challenge is now to achieve a gradual transition from relief to recovery mode, keeping in mind that the humanitarian situation is volatile. We expect the United Nations to play a leading role in the longer-term recovery process, including by supporting capacity-building, enhancing the legitimacy of the Haitian institutions and engaging civil society.

The representative of Haiti has asked to make a further statement, and I give him the floor.

I apologize for taking the floor again, but I could not fail to do so, even if just once more to thank Council members and all others who spoke this morning. On behalf of my Government, I thank them for their very positive comments; the Government will be duly informed of those comments. I am certain that the Government will follow up on the recommendations made as my country moves towards stability. A number of speakers made reference to the problem of sexual violence arising from certain deplorable incidents in certain camps for the displaced. I assure the Council that the Government is well aware of these incidents and that, together with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the Haitian National Police, it is taking appropriate measures to remedy the situation and ensure better protection of women and children. Finally, I want to convey the gratitude of the Government and the people of Haiti to Mr. Mulet and to MINUSTAH. We all know that they are working in extremely difficult conditions and that they have nonetheless made it possible for the Government and the country to make progress towards stabilization.

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.