S/PV.6618 Security Council

I would like to begin by expressing my sincere thanks to you, Mr. President, and to the members of the Security Council for having organized this debate on the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). This is the first time I have had the honour of addressing the Council in my capacity as Special Representative of the Secretary- General in Haiti since I began fulfilling my duties on 26 June. I am honoured to share with the Council an assessment of the most recent developments in the political and security situation in Haiti and of the activities of MINUSTAH in support of stability, the development of the rule of law and recovery efforts in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake. Today, I have the privilege of presenting to the Council the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2011/540), issued on 25 August. The report includes a summary of the most relevant findings and recommendations of the security assessment mission to Haiti that was conducted by the Secretariat in response to the Council’s request in its resolution 1944 (2010) of 14 October 2010. The post-earthquake surge, authorized by the Security Council to meet the needs arising from the large-scale humanitarian operations that had been launched and to the complex nature of the subsequent elections, was very necessary at the time. The current situation, however, affords us an opportunity to think about reducing force levels. Such a reduction would need to be accompanied by a reconfiguration of MINUSTAH in order to ensure an adequate response to current needs, including support for the political process, the consolidation of State authority and State capacity-building, as well as the strengthening and possible creation of institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. Since the previous report of the Secretary- General to the Security Council (S/2011/183), issued on 24 March, Haiti has witnessed a historic event with a change in presidential leadership in which one democratically elected Head of State transferred power to a new leader from the opposition. I believe that we should congratulate the people of Haiti for having achieved this important milestone and President Michel Joseph Martelly on his election as the new leader of Haiti. I also wish to thank the Organization of American States (OAS) and the joint electoral observation mission of the OAS and the Caribbean Community for their support to a successful and significant election. I am particularly pleased to see Haiti being represented by its diplomatic officials in the Council today. Despite all this, Haiti’s political transition has not been without its difficulties. Even before the new President took office and the forty-ninth legislature began, the electoral process was tarnished by a decision of the Provisional Electoral Council whereby it decided to change the results for the winners of 17 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and two in the Senate. Furthermore, discrepancies remain between the text of the constitutional amendments approved by Parliament during the last term of President René Préval and the text that was subsequently published. This is delaying the constitutional reform process and has brought it to a standstill, owing to the decision by President Martelly to reverse the promulgation of the proposed amendments. As a result, the 1987 Constitution remains in full effect. The greatest challenges to the political process in Haiti, however, are that it has been impossible for the new President to obtain parliamentary approval for a new Prime Minister and, in turn, to form a new Government and draft a viable policy agenda with the assent of Parliament. Four months after President Martelly took office, and after two failed attempts to have Parliament ratify a Prime Minister-designate, Haiti is still without a Head of Government. Other ministerial appointments are pending, and there is a continuing lack of a very necessary political agreement between the executive and the legislative branches on the main rule of law institutions and key public policies, as previously mentioned. In recent days, there has been a positive sign with the nomination of Mr. Garry Conille, a long-time United Nations official. It is hoped that Parliament will approve him as President Martelly’s first Prime Minister. Information emerging from Parliament indicates that he will most likely be approved as Head of Government. I stress that such approval alone would change the political landscape of Haiti and open up a far more promising future. In the midst of political paralysis and before the possible approval of a Prime Minister, the humanitarian situation remains of concern. Despite the successes achieved before the earthquake, the relocation of those living in camps for displaced persons has slowed in recent months. At the moment, approximately 634,000 people are still living in camps, and the Government plan to relocate them has enjoyed limited success. While the basic humanitarian needs of displaced persons have been met by the distribution of humanitarian assistance, the sparse socio-economic opportunities and the rising costs of food and oil have exacerbated the Haitians’ living conditions. Similarly, the prevalence of such diseases as malaria and cholera remains a serious problem. Although the cholera mortality rate fell in all departments, from 5.6 per cent at the beginning of the epidemic last year to 1.4 per cent in August, it is clear that the epidemic has not disappeared. In general, recovery and reconstruction activities are progressing, supervised by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. We are seeing, however, that much remains lacking. Of the funds pledged by international donors for 2010-2011, only 37.8 per cent have been disbursed. I take this opportunity to appeal to donor countries to honour their donation pledges to ensure that Haiti will have the resources necessary to advance its reconstruction. There security situation is somewhat calm, but very fragile. Political tension, alongside a precarious socio-economic situation, is generating new tensions in the security situation. The second round of voting in 2011 was carried out without major incident, largely thanks to the assistance of MINUSTAH police and troops to the Haitian National Police. As the Secretary- General’s security assessment confirmed, law and order did not totally break down following the earthquake, although there has been a recent rise in crime rates. Undoubtedly, the calm but fragile security situation of recent months, due to the overall political instability generated by the lack of a Government, has led to greater fragility in civic security. I am particularly concerned over the instability that could arise should the political and socio- economic situations continued to deteriorate. MINUSTAH will have to continue to play an invaluable role in supporting the fight against criminality. In August, the United Nations fell victim to the rising violence. I pay tribute here to Sergeant Serge Kamali of Rwanda, a United Nations police officer who was shot in Port-au-Prince last month and whom I visited in the Santo Domingo hospital before his death on 26 August. The Sergeant’s death was the first in two years to be caused by a malicious act, and it represents a loss to MINUSTAH and the United Nations. Against that backdrop, I should like to highlight the work that MINUSTAH has been doing in key aspects of its mandate and in response to contingent needs since the issuance of the Secretary-General’s last report (S/2011/183). First, the Mission continues to provide support to the Haitian electoral authorities and the political process. In addition to its substantial technical and logistical support and coordination efforts for the presidential and legislative elections during the second half of 2010 and early 2011, in recent months the Mission has focused its efforts on launching a dialogue with the authorities, civil society and the private sector in support of agreements on governability that will promote the creation or strengthening of institutions necessary to the proper functioning of the rule of law, which is critical to Haiti politics. The political stalemate between the new President and Parliament, in addition to the absence of a Government, has complicated prospects for progress in this area. Haitian political and civil society leaders continue to clamour for national consensus in key areas, such as the national budget, education, recovery and development priorities, elections and constitutional reform. I add my voice to the appeals of the Haitian political class that we heed the calls for greater understanding and demonstrate greater political will to reach agreement that will undoubtedly help to improve the lives of the Haitian people and reflect clear progress in the consolidation of the rule of law, and hence towards Haiti’s complete self-reliance in its development efforts, which is our common aspiration as we work in that dear country. The tireless efforts of MINUSTAH to facilitate national and local dialogue in order to motivate an exchange of ideas among the Government, civil society, the private sector and other key actors will remain critical in the future. It will also be important to support the electoral process in Haiti, which is preparing for partial legislative and local Government elections in November. In that respect, I stress that electoral reform, including the establishment of a credible permanent electoral council, is indispensable if Haiti hopes gradually to reduce its dependence on international electoral assistance. Secondly, with regard to the consolidation of State authority, progress has been made, but the Administration’s current capacities, the provision of basic services and the administration of justice remain far below the levels necessary if the Haitian authorities are to fully assume their responsibilities for ensuring stability. During the period covered by the report, MINUSTAH continued to provide technical support to increase the capacities of State institutions at both the national level, including Parliament, and at the local level, and to assist in the development of the infrastructure of ministries and local administrative bodies. In that context, one important priority remains the strengthening of rule of law institutions and the protection of human rights. Progress in this area has been hindered by the absence of a new Government and the lack of agreement on the nomination of four judges, including the President of the Court of Cassation and the Superior Council of the Judiciary — a priority that has long remained unmet. President Martelly has announced that these nominations will be made by early October, and we hope they will. However, the nominations to those vital institutions and other key judicial posts have been marred by controversy and require dialogue and, in particular, political will on the part of leaders. I would say quite frankly that such political will is hard to come by in Haiti. Parliament recently endorsed 18 candidates, from whom the President must nominate the President of the Court of Cassation and other pending judicial appointments. We hope that these necessary decisions will be taken soon. That would represent a very important step forward in the area of the rule of law, which is fundamental, as I have repeatedly stressed, to international cooperation and MINUSTAH’s work in Haiti. With regard to the strengthening of human rights, MINUSTAH and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have investigated violations, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention and detainee abuse. Thus 26 local courts have been set up in various parts of the country, which have coordinated their efforts with those of the United Nations country team in order to train judicial actors in the area of gender violence so that they have the necessary legal framework in place to deal with violations of human rights. With regard to corrections and the penal system, MINUSTAH is providing support to the Haitian authorities in the conclusion of judicial cases, which has led to the release of 260 detainees since March 2011. Continued support and bilateral cooperation with donor countries has made it possible to develop prison infrastructure, thereby helping to increase by 28 per cent the space that detainees have in their cells. Nonetheless, prison overpopulation is a problem, and violations of prisoners’ human rights remain a serious concern. To date there has been no improvement in administrative reform at the national level. Given these challenges, I am convinced that the strategic focus of MINUSTAH will continue to be to support the strengthening of institutions and the rule of law for the protection of human rights and, above all, to contribute to providing greater stability to the country. This leads me to a third priority of MINUSTAH, mentioned in the report, namely, our support in the area of security and stabilization. I wish to share with the Council the successful joint operations of our military and police personnel in support of the Haitian police to prevent and minimize the activities of gangs and maintain public order, particularly in important areas of Port-au-Prince such as Cité Soleil, Bel Air and Martissant. I should like to recall here Operation Phoenix, carried out in July 2011, which made it possible to detain various gang members as well as fugitives from justice responsible for criminal activities throughout the city. MINUSTAH has continued its efforts to protect vulnerable groups, carrying out 24-hour patrols in camps for internally displaced persons and providing assistance to victims of sexual abuse and gender-based violence. The Mission is training the Haitian Police to respond to and prevent this kind of violence, particularly against women and children. That support has been reflected in the establishment of a gender and women’s affairs coordination office, in cooperation with the Haitian National Police. There has been significant, concrete progress in the training of the Haitian National Police. Let us recall that its capacity to create and maintain security conditions is one of the fundamental aspects with respect to a reduction of MINUSTAH and the development of a strategy for its eventual exit. May witnessed the graduation of the twenty-second promotion of Haitian National Police officers, whose strength currently stands at 10,000, of whom 783 are women. MINUSTAH continues to provide support in the enrolment and certification process for future promotions as well as in the elaboration of a development plan for the next five years that will replace the current one, whose deadline is December 2011. The Haitian National Police has continued to support the MINUSTAH structure and to work with other international groups in order to improve the process of recruitment, training and the development of infrastructure. This, however, must change in future if Haiti wishes to gradually assume responsibility for its own security. As I indicated at the beginning of this briefing, it is the Secretariat’s vision, with which we fully agree, that we gradually reduce the MINUSTAH force levels — levels that had been approved as a result of the 2010 earthquake but that now can and should be reduced. The Secretary-General, in a report that Council members have probably already seen, has recommended reducing the Mission’s authorized military strength by 1,600 personnel and 1,150 United Nations police officers. That would leave 7,150 troops and 2,300 police. Such a quantitative reduction should be complemented by a greater emphasis on the qualifications and specialization of police officials. This is particularly important with regard to the creation of a police academy, which will require international cooperation so that it can become an institution of excellence and be an important instrument in the rule of law as well as in enabling Haiti to fight the most sophisticated types of modern crime. In the coming days, we will be hosting 50 special police officers who are experts in fighting narco- trafficking and organized crime. This is a very important contribution that will qualitatively complement the proposed quantitative reduction, and I believe it is particularly important for Haiti and for MINUSTAH in carrying out its activities. Finally, I should like to refer to the efforts of MINUSTAH for recovery and development in the long term. The United Nations peacekeeping missions, including MINUSTAH, are not development operations, but they are essential to creating the conditions for long-term development. As such, MINUSTAH is continuing — and must continue — to contribute to sustainable recovery in Haiti. This year the Mission has worked with the United Nations country team, together with the Haitian authorities and with other international donors, to respond simultaneously to the needs of displaced persons, as specified in the mandate of MINUSTAH, and to make progress in the area of peace. Since July 2010, the United Nations country team has identified and submitted 18 project proposals to the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission; eight have received funding through the Haiti Recovery Fund, while another three have received funding from bilateral donors. This is promising, but not sufficient to meet people’s urgent needs and change their lives for the better. Likewise, a resumption of the activities of the private sector will be fundamental to the long-term stability of the country. This sector has been weakened by the lack of security and the absence of the legal framework necessary for investment in the private sector. On a smaller scale, but equally important, MINUSTAH has contributed to recovery in Haiti through its quick-impact projects, through its programme to reduce violence in communities and through its military engineering reconstruction projects. In 2010-2011, the majority of the 229 quick- impact projects were focused on the rehabilitation of public infrastructure and the provision of basic public services in areas where assistance from the Government is non-existent. Various projects have created income for women and other civil society groups, enabling them to develop the capacities of the members of the various communities of the country. Since the earthquake, a total of 99 programmes for the reduction of violence in communities have been implemented in response to environmental and socio-economic needs. Those programmes include the construction of canals, the installation of public lighting, professional training, and initiatives to provide employment. About 30,000 women and young people at risk have been given temporary employment through those programmes. More than 1,100 young people have been provided access to training programmes and employment in the private sector. In addition to these small-scale initiatives, MINUSTAH and its military engineering units have been able to contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. The military force increased the number of engineers following the earthquake, and that number should be maintained as part of the reconfiguration of the activities of our Mission. Since April 2011, military engineers have finalized 80 projects, including the removal of rubble from former Government buildings and public institutions damaged by the earthquake, the repair and construction of roads, groundwork for the construction of facilities for dealing with outbreaks of cholera, the construction of storage space and the draining of canals. I should like to stress that a reduction of the efforts of MINUSTAH in the area of reconstruction and development would represent a setback in this respect, particularly given Haiti’s politically fragile situation, and we could see a further deterioration of the security situation. Furthermore, all of the projects carried out by MINUSTAH are primarily aimed at ensuring peace and security, such as providing public lighting in areas where there was none after dark. This is being welcomed and supported because it is a great contribution to the security of the population. Many of them also have a positive impact on development, infrastructure and employment, among other areas. But they are not solutions in the long term. I must therefore also call on the members of the Security Council and of the international community to help stimulate investment and development efforts in Haiti and to make available to the United Nations country team the resources necessary to contribute to that end. This will be increasingly necessary in order for MINUSTAH to begin to drawdown its military and police presence. In conclusion, I would like to point out that Haiti and MINUSTAH are today at an important crossroads. The Haitian people have demonstrated great strength and admirable determination in the face of many and varied challenges and catastrophes. The international community can feel proud of its show of solidarity vis-à-vis the Haitian people. I trust that this solidarity will continue. In that regard, I would like to express my gratitude for the commitment and efforts of the men and women serving in MINUSTAH, as well as to the wider United Nations family serving in Haiti. The situation in Haiti continues to be fragile, and certain reversals could generate a new crisis. The future stability of Haiti, and ultimately its prosperity, will continue to depend upon the political will of its leaders and citizens, as well as the support of the Security Council and the international community as a whole. I should like to conclude by launching an appeal to all stakeholders involved to continue our commitment to cooperate with Haiti so that the country may achieve the best of futures, which it deserves.

I thank Mr. Fernandez Amunategui for his statement. I shall now give the floor to members of the Council.

I would like to thank Ambassador Mariano Fernandez Amunategui for his very comprehensive briefing. Brazil commends his much appreciated work to assist Haiti in its efforts towards enhanced stability and concrete progress in key political, economic, social and institutional objectives. As the Secretary-General notes his report (S/2011/540), “Haiti has experienced, for the first time in its history, a peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another from the opposition.” (S/2011/540, para. 2) This is in itself a major achievement. It also brings new challenges. We call on all political actors in Haiti to contribute to the forging of a broad political compact based on a common set of national priorities. That will greatly facilitate continued international cooperation and support to the country. The humanitarian situation in Haiti has shown considerable improvement, as the number of people living under tents has declined significantly. But the thousands of Haitians still in camps are precisely the most vulnerable. We must redouble our efforts so that housing projects increase in pace and scale. Strong international engagement is still essential to ensure that all pressing humanitarian needs are met. Mitigating natural disasters and preventing cholera outbreaks are still crucial tasks we must all help to complete. Brazil reiterates its full support to the Haiti Interim Recovery Commission and would welcome the extension of its mandate. In that regard, we hope that its renewal will entail enhanced national ownership of the reconstruction process. In turn, that would improve the dialogue between the Commission and Haitian society. Reconstruction must help to tackle the economic challenges that have long thwarted Haiti’s path towards prosperity. That is one of the many ways by which we can assist Haitians not only to rebuild but to rebuild better. Job creation remains the most urgent challenge. We therefore favour a more strategic vision of the reconstruction efforts, with the expeditious implementation of approved projects and special attention to those that are labour-intensive. Brazil also welcomes the appointment by President Martelly of his presidential consultative council for economic development and investment. We hope that this initiative will contribute to enhancing the coordination of international cooperation, fully developing Haiti’s economic potential and attracting investment, in an environment of stronger democratic governance and the rule of law. Infrastructure and energy remain key aspects in that respect. Brazil continues to believe that the construction of the hydroelectric plant of Artibonite 4C is a critical project that will boost economic growth and job generation, while providing a clean source of energy for millions of people. We urge all interested partners to rally behind this project so that it can be implemented as a matter of urgency. Brazil will continue to support the development of Haiti, through technical cooperation and economic assistance. Such initiatives pave the way for the sustainable peace and stability in Haiti. Throughout the years, the experience of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has provided us with many examples of the benefits of addressing security and development as interlinked challenges. Recent events have confirmed that perception. In July, as mentioned by Ambassador Fernandez Amunategui, MINUSTAH conducted Operation Phoenix in poor areas of Port-au-Prince, with the aim of dismantling resurgent gang and criminal activity. The Operation resulted in lower crime rates and an increase in the level of social assistance, better public services and enhanced economic opportunities for the local population. Last month, MINUSTAH completed the installation of 208 lampposts in Cité Soleil, in a partnership with the Brazilian military contingent and local contractors. Apart from its economic benefits, that initiative is expected to have a major impact on crime rates in the area and provide enhanced security, especially for women. Brazil supports the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate as recommended in the Secretary-General’s report. We concur with the proposed drawdown of military and police contingents to pre-earthquake levels, with the understanding that such a measure will be implemented in a way that does not impact the Mission’s assets and capacity to preserve stability in the country. Brazil also sees a need to initiate a serious debate on the future of the Mission. Our collective reflection should in particular take into account the security situation on the ground as it evolves, as well as the interlinkages between security and development as key components of sustainable peace. It is essential that efforts on the security front be accompanied by even stronger support by the international community to socio-economic development and the strengthening of the institutional capabilities of the Haitian State. Brazil’s commitment to Haiti, bilaterally, regionally and through the United Nations, remains unwavering. It stems from the deep-rooted and long- standing solidarity of the Brazilian people towards our Haitian brothers and sisters. We will continue to assist Haiti, including through MINUSTAH, in its quest for independence, justice and prosperity.

Allow me, first of all, to welcome Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernandez Amunategui, as well as to thank him for his introduction of a very sober and concise report (S/2011/540), which extensively covered such important topics as political developments and the humanitarian situation, including the full range of reconstruction and security issues, as well as some very important considerations concerning the role and future of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I should also like to express my gratitude to Mr. Edmond Mulet, who led MINUSTAH during a critical time for both Haiti and the Mission. His dedication, experience and efforts were crucial to addressing the complex challenges facing the Mission as a consequence of the earthquake that struck the country. We are meeting in the Security Council once again today to evaluate the progress made in Haiti and to recommend the measures that should be expanded to achieve stability, well-being and development. First of all, we welcome the democratic process that began seven months ago, which brought His Excellency Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly to the presidency. This was a historic step in Haiti’s democracy that will without a doubt make it possible for this sisterly country to strengthen its institutions, consolidate national unity, make progress on the implementation of economic and social programmes in line with the plans and programmes to be decided upon, and bolster reconstruction in response to the 2010 earthquake. The election of President Martelly and his assumption of power underscored the contribution MINUSTAH has made to maintaining a secure and stable environment, acting as a crucial support helping the Haitian people to better face the numerous political, economic and social challenges before them. However, significant challenges remain in several areas, including in terms of security, as stated by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, following recent events. We believe that consolidating peace in Haiti still requires continued assistance from MINUSTAH, in particular under the central pillar of its mandate to promote and build conditions of security, well-being and stability necessary for development in a way that gradually reduces dependence on aid. In this context, while the Secretary-General correctly states in his report that conditions are now in place to start reducing the number of troops deployed to pre-earthquake levels, he also spurs us to consider the opportunity to consolidate security and take action to strengthen the central elements of socio-economic development in Haiti. In our view, if troop levels are drawn down, continuity must be ensured for the ongoing reconstruction efforts. In particular, the achievements made by cooperating countries in the field of military engineering support for recovery and reconstruction activities must be safeguarded. This position is based on our view that security is strengthened when the physical environment allows for greater protection of citizens, starting with services such as electric light, access routes, hospitals and anti-flooding waterways. As stated in the Secretary-General’s report, a total of 125 project proposals have been received in this area. The reconstruction support we continue providing to Haiti is therefore crucial for the State to continue carrying out its functions and for the implementation of these projects to be adequately organized. We are convinced that there is a need to undertake a fresh evaluation of the sort carried out by MINUSTAH prior to the earthquake with regard to the military and police presence in order to plan — instead of simply returning to pre-2010 troop levels — any adjustment to the force configuration on the basis of needs on the ground. It is of great importance that action be carried out gradually, in keeping with the criteria set out by the United Nations and in consultation with the Haitian authorities so as to avoid any shortfall in this area. The future configuration of the Mission, as well as the required level of troops, should be determined by the type of operations required. In this context, we note said the statement of the Secretary-General in the report with regard to the incidence of crime and violence in Haiti, and in particular the growing demands on the police force. From an institutional standpoint, this reinforces the need to strengthen the capacities of the Haitian National Police. We could reduce troop numbers if officers became more specialized in specific areas of criminality and in their assigned duties. In that respect, the Special Representative’s briefing was very important with regard to the progress that has been made in police training. With that same spirit and commitment, Colombia has been part of the evolving situation on the ground in Haiti, including through police cooperation and, more recently, cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. We must also underscore our participation in the mission of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of the South American countries involved in MINUSTAH, which visited Haiti from 26 June to 1 July 2011, and in the assessment mission to coordinate cooperation projects in which Colombia is participating. Shortly, a decision will be made on the future of MINUSTAH, a Mission that we believe has accomplished important tasks. We reaffirm the conclusions reached by the Security Council in its open debate in April (S/PV.6510) led by President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, which are contained in the presidential statement adopted that day (S/PRST/2011/7). In it, the Council emphasized that in the case of Haiti security must be accompanied by socio-economic development, and reaffirmed the responsibility of MINUSTAH to support the Haitian State in the areas of the rule of law, good governance, the consolidation of State authority, and the promotion and protection of human rights. A fundamentally important topic addressed in that statement was the importance of continuous coordination and joint work among the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission and other stakeholders in order to achieve sustainable results. To that end, coordination among donors, the Government of Haiti and the United Nations must be guided by a coherent framework aimed at long-term sustainable results. Today, the Council’s long-standing call for political consensus in Haiti, issued when it established MINUSTAH, is more urgent than ever. It is up to the political forces in Haiti to build their own destiny on the foundations of the gains achieved, in order to get on track to a better future. No contribution can be effective without such political will, and no one other than the Haitians themselves can help in this task. In conclusion, I express the gratitude of my Government for the work carried out by a great number of countries, organizations, institutions and individuals in Haiti, among which I must single out the Haitian people themselves, whose difficult experiences have taught them to overcome adversity and the trials of nature. Keeping alive the world’s message of solidarity with Haiti is an obligation, as is the spirit and desire of the Latin American and Caribbean countries to embrace as a brother a nation with which we have historical and geographic links, as well as a moral obligation. This commitment is in harmony us with the philosophy and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, which reaffirms the dignity of the human person based on the equal rights of men and women and of States large and small. Haiti, a nation of great values, expects the international community not to falter in this endeavour.

At the outset, we wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Fernandez Amunategui on his appointment as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, and to thank him for his statement. We assure him of our support for the United Nations efforts in Haiti. South Africa would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people and Government of Haiti on the successful conclusion of the presidential and parliamentary election process in May this year. Even though there were some difficulties initially, Haiti successfully managed the peaceful transition from one democratically elected President to another. However, this positive momentum, created by the transition, may be lost due to the political differences that have delayed the appointment of a Prime Minster and Cabinet. My delegation agrees with the observation of the Secretary-General in his report that “antagonisms between opposing political forces are casting a shadow on the country’s recent democratic success and threatening its progress towards lasting stability” (S/2011/540, para. 55). We are concerned that the success of the presidential elections runs the risk of being eroded by the lack of progress in establishing Government. It is therefore imperative that all stakeholders within the legislative and executive branches of Government make the necessary concessions to ensure that agreement is reached to establish a Government. The formation of a Government is essential if Haitians are to lead the efforts to rebuild their country. In April, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2011/7) in which we recognized the interconnected nature of the challenges facing Haiti. We reaffirmed that security, good governance, the rule of law, the consolidation of national Government structures and development are mutually reinforcing. While the security situation is relatively calm, South African shares the concerns that the situation could deteriorate if the political disagreement persists. We further remain concerned at the continued high rate of crimes such as murder, rape and kidnapping. This can also erode the stability of Haiti. In this regard, the efforts of the Haitian National Police, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the United Nations country team should be expanded to all areas experiencing high rates of criminal activity. Cooperation between the Haitian National Police and MINUSTAH is vital to bringing about overall security and stability in the country. We welcome the fact that, in the areas where MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police have jointly carried out anti-crime operations, criminality has decreased. We remain deeply concerned at the tremendous humanitarian challenges still facing Haitians, with large numbers of the population — in particular internally displaced persons — continuing to lack access to housing and basic services. It is therefore troubling that a number of non-governmental organizations have had to leave Haiti due to reduced donor funding. This is likely to have a negative effect on the cholera prevention efforts and other daunting challenges facing Haiti, such as the soaring prices of food and fuel. It is therefore incumbent on the international community to continue to support Haiti in its recovery from the various humanitarian disasters that affected it last year. Without such support, the country will not be able to achieve stability and development. For its part, South Africa remains committed to assisting the people of Haiti bilaterally, through United Nations structures and projects, and through our cooperation with India and Brazil in the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation. South Africa supports the proposed drawdown of the military and police capabilities of MINUSTAH as long as it is gradual and conducted with the cooperation of the Haitian authorities, taking into account their needs and institutional capacity. We also support the recommendation by the Secretary-General that the mandate of MINUSTAH be extended for an additional year so that the Mission can continue with its efforts in support of the political process and the consolidation of State authority. We are appalled by the allegation of sexual assault by MINUSTAH military personnel. Allegations such as these harm the credibility of MINUSTAH. The United Nations zero-tolerance policy for such actions must be emphasized, and there should be no impunity for those found guilty of such offences. We note that the Government concerned has acted immediately to investigate these allegations. In conclusion, Haiti has made significant strides towards peace and stability. Challenges remain, and it is imperative that the Haitians, with the sustained support of the international community, work to overcome these obstacles.

I would like to thank Mr. Mariano Fernandez Amunategui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, for his presentation, and I congratulate him on his appointment at the head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I shall limit my statement to three points. Our most recent meeting on this issue in April 2011 (S/PV.6510) took place following the second round of presidential and legislative elections in Haiti. A peaceful and historic transition, as noted by the Secretary-General in his report (S/2011/540), indeed took place between two democratically elected Presidents. We should congratulate the Haitian people on this, as well as MINUSTAH for its efforts, which made these elections possible. Today we call upon the authorities of the country to act with a sense of responsibility and allow the establishment of a Government. Cooperation between executive and legislative powers is never easy, as we all know, but it is the mark of statesmen to put national interests before partisan or individual interests. Secondly, the international community needs political stability and an established Government in Haiti so as to continue its efforts for stabilization and rebuilding. We know what the challenges are: a calm but fragile security situation; a reconstruction effort that is taking too long; more than 600,000 internally displaced persons; an economy that must be rebuilt; a police force that is still unable to guarantee security throughout the country; a fragile rule of law; an upswing in criminality, particularly in Port-au-Prince; and a cholera epidemic that, after a second spike last June, could become endemic. The endeavours of the international community for Haiti for so many years — and not just since the earthquake of 2010 — are commensurate with these challenges. In addition to its participation in MINUSTAH, France’s aid totals more than €326 million for 2010-2011. More than half of this sum has already been disbursed. The European Union is also providing significant support, and France aligns itself with the statement to be made by its representative. We will pursue our efforts not in order to keep the country on indefinite life support, but to strengthen State capacities and those of the Haitian people. The determination of the elected authorities to shoulder their responsibilities and undertake the measures necessary will be the best gauge of the staying power of our collective efforts for development in Haiti. This also applies to the United Nations and MINUSTAH. We will renew the Mission’s mandate in the near future. Its means were enhanced so as to rise to the exceptional circumstances created by the earthquake. Circumstances have changed, and we must take this into account. The humanitarian context has changed and the elections are behind us. Therefore, today we can reduce the number of military and civil personnel deployed without endangering either the ability of the Mission to fulfil its mandate or the stability of the country. These are, moreover, the conclusions of the Secretary-General’s report. We cannot ignore the people’s feelings with respect to the presence of foreign troops in their country and the wishes of elected authorities. In this context, it is important that the behaviour of soldiers deployed in the country be exemplary. As the presence of the United Nations in Haiti is part of a long-term endeavour, and as we want MINUSTAH to be the last peacekeeping operation deployed in Haiti, we hope that it evolves in a gradual and responsible way.

Allow me to convey our gratitude to Mr. Mariano Fernandez Amunategui for his effective work as Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) during a very difficult and challenging period for Haiti. We wish him tremendous success in his new assignment and thank him for his insightful presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/540). The end of the presidential elections in Haiti and the transition to another elected Government, despite the acrimony that attended the process, represent a major milestone in Haiti’s political development. The need to avoid the pitfalls of the past while striving to heal the wounds emanating from the political process requires the new Government to rapidly consolidate its efforts. But as President Martelly rises to the enormous challenges of his office, the support of the Haitian people will remain exceedingly vital. The challenges facing the country require Haitian leaders to forge a common bond. More than ever, they must demonstrate willingness to own the process of national recovery. They must commit to peace, democracy and national stability by ending the current political stalemate in the appointment of a new Prime Minister. Indeed, the task of rebuilding the country cannot be successfully accomplished in the current fractious atmosphere. The implementation of the Haitian national recovery and development plan will require strong and resilient security institutions that will effectively address the increasing menace of armed banditry and organized crime. The Haitian National Police will need to be adequately resourced to discharge its constitutional law enforcement duties. It will require basic equipment, logistical support and other essential assistance to strengthen its operational efforts and overcome the dire security challenges facing the country. We believe that the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 49 and 50 of the Secretary-General’s report will go a long way towards comprehensively addressing Haiti’s security concerns. The international community must also support Haiti in developing the capacity and resources needed for proper border management. The partial withdrawal of MINUSTAH’s military and police personnel should neither compromise the current security conditions nor prejudice the Mission’s ability to address adjustments to its mandate. Although much remains to be done to restore Haiti to its pre-earthquake state, it is encouraging that the humanitarian conditions in the country have improved considerably since the recovery efforts began. Undoubtedly, the significant inflow of funds from donors and the international community and pledges received through international aid initiatives played a critical role. The launching of the World Bank-supported housing project and the Government housing initiative to build 2,000 homes in Port-au- Prince will, we hope, ameliorate the current conditions of over 1 million internally displaced persons still living in emergency shelters in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince. We expect that these initiatives will further decongest the over 1,000 internally displaced person sites and provide durable accommodation that will survive the harsh weather. We would like to take this opportunity to commend humanitarian partners for their efforts in distributing relief materials and coordinating with the Haitian authorities in implementation of the country’s priority programmes. Indeed, the United Nations country team and MINUSTAH have facilitated the delivery of a humanitarian response capable of consolidating Haiti’s recovery and the implementation of its programmes. Aware of the persistent challenges, the international community must not remove its focus from Haiti. We must continue in our bilateral and multilateral efforts to assist Haiti to grow faster and better following the devastating effects of the earthquake and cholera epidemic. It would help if donors were to continue to fulfil their outstanding pledges and also respond favourably to the 2011 consolidated appeal of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). While the international community remains vigilant, the Government must assume responsibility and full ownership of Haiti’s stability process by advancing the provision of basic amenities and reducing the country’s dependence on international support. The role of the United Nations — in particular MINUSTAH, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and OCHA — in leading and coordinating the international efforts in Haiti is most commendable. Nigeria is pleased that its police contingent is part of MINUSTAH, which has continued to carry out it mandate with distinction under very trying circumstances. I therefore salute the courage, dedication and sacrifice of the gallant men and women of MINUSTAH, as well as humanitarian workers in Haiti. On this score, we welcome the Secretary- General’s recommendation that the mandate of MINUSTAH be extended.

At the outset, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Fernandez Amunátegui for his extensive briefing today and to congratulate him on assuming the position of Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I also wish to extend our appreciation to former Special Representative Edmond Mulet for his important contribution and engagement through a rather challenging period for Haiti. We commend the first historic peaceful transition of power in Haiti and wish newly elected President Michel Joseph Martelly every success in performing his duties and facing the great challenges that lie ahead. Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its concern about the current political stalemate in establishing a new Government and defining a clear constitutional reform process. This political stand-off threatens recent democratic success and any progress towards lasting stability in the country. We call upon Haitian political leaders to strengthen their efforts in bridging the political gap and finding a compromise in order to make progress towards a political agreement. We also extend our full support for the efforts and activities of the Special Representative aimed at reaching a political consensus. Although the security situation in Haiti is relatively calm, we remain concerned regarding criminal trends in the aftermath of the earthquake, especially the increase in murders, sexual and gender- based violence, and kidnapping. There have also been cases where children were used as soldiers. We urge the Government of Haiti to take strong measures to prevent such violence and ensure that the perpetrators of those acts are brought to justice. Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizes the importance of the presence of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the country and its activities in maintaining stability and security there, with emphasis on election run-offs and the post-electoral phase at a time when the situation is especially precarious due to possible clashes between political opponents and their supporters. We commend MINUSTAH for pursuing its strategic security goal of reforming and strengthening the Haitian National Police. The progress in institution- and capacity-building is evident. However, the Haitian National Police still has not acquired enough capacity and strength to guarantee the security of the country’s citizens. More than a year and a half has passed since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, but the Haitians are still suffering the consequences. There are still more than 630,000 internally displaced persons, living mainly in camps. The already harsh living conditions are further aggravated by economic instability and reduced donor funding. We take this opportunity to call upon donors to continue their support to Haiti so that the country can establish stability and security. We are also concerned by the resurgence of cholera cases, although the mortality rate seems to be slowly diminishing. More efforts by the Government of Haiti and international humanitarian organizations must be put into preventive activities, such as providing sanitation and clean water. Haitian executive and legislative authorities need to proceed with institution-building, particularly in the domains of security, rule of law and justice. They must also do their utmost to improve the living conditions of Haiti’s citizens by providing basic services, housing and education. In this challenging process, the assistance and support of the international community to Haitian authorities will be of crucial importance. We therefore support the recommendation of the Secretary- General to extend the MINUSTAH mandate for another year, with a recalibration of the Mission’s role through downsizing the surge capacities and increasing the institutional capacities of the Haitian authorities.

I thank the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mariano Fernandez Amunategui, and wish him every success in the performance of his duties. I thank him for his excellent briefing. I also offer a special word of thanks to Mr. Edmond Mulet for everything that he has accomplished. I also would like to welcome among us of our colleague from Haiti. Our debate today concerns the activity of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) over the past five months and also with the situation in Haiti and the challenges that it faces: security, reconstruction, economic and social development, the strengthening of its institutions and the rule of law, and the promotion of human rights — basically the building of a modern democratic State. I shall be brief because the essential points have already been covered in previous statements. We welcome the democratic transition that has taken place in Haiti. Democracy is being consolidated in the country despite the difficulties. We hope that the stalemate in the appointment of a Prime Minister will soon be overcome so that Haitian politicians will be able to concentrate on the process of reconstruction and development in conditions that will strengthen Haitians’ trust in their democratic institutions. Security has been a central issue in Haiti for a long time. We take note that the Haitian National Police has been strengthened, but its action is “severely constrained by insufficient numbers and a lack of basic equipment and logistics” (S/2011/540, para. 11). We feel that cooperation between MINUSTAH and Haitian National Police should be based increasingly on training and institution-building. Peace and security in Haiti are above all the responsibility of the people and authorities of Haiti, an independent and sovereign State. The international community cannot replace these national authorities and can only support the stabilization efforts carried out by the Haitians themselves. The protection of human rights and the humanitarian situation continue to be of special concern to us. MINUSTAH is continuing to cooperate with the High Commissioner for Human Rights in order to help Haitian institutions to better integrate the protection of human rights in their daily activities. The activities carried out by the Haitian authorities are praiseworthy, given the considerable difficulties, but it appears that additional efforts will be required in the fundamental area of consolidation of the rule of law. The marginalization of particularly vulnerable groups, the significant number of internally displaced persons and gender-based and sexual violence also continue to be a source of major concern. Much has already been said about the work of MINUSTAH in supporting public institutions, economic recovery, the fight against community violence and the response to the cholera epidemic. I will therefore not address those issues. Nevertheless, it is important that the international community continue its efforts in solidarity with the people of Haiti. Such continued solidarity is necessary to ensure the coordination and coherence of those efforts. It is certain that in adapting to new challenges and measures, MINUSTAH will continue to play a central role in that context, in close cooperation with the Haitian authorities, who have been called upon to increasingly take charge of their competencies and responsibilities. In conclusion, Portugal supports the recommendations of the Secretary-General and an extension of MINUSTAH’s mandate for an additional year. I would like to assure the Permanent Representative of Haiti of Portugal’s support for his goals and for the stability and growing development of his country.

At the outset, as previous speakers have done, I would like to express my appreciation for the initiative taken to convene this debate, and to thank Mr. Fernandez Amunategui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his detailed briefing on the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). My statement will address the political and security situations, the humanitarian sphere and the rebuilding of Haiti. On the political front, my country is pleased with the successful conduct of the democratic elections in Haiti, which led to the election of President Michel Joseph Martelly on 20 March. In that regard, we salute the maturity of the Haitian people as well as the support of MINUSTAH and other international partners to them. My delegation also pays tribute to the recent constitutional amendments and the nomination of the President of the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, we encourage all political actors in the country to continue to work together in order to accelerate the establishment of the Government and the putting in place of the institutional reforms necessary to restore the rule of law and a calm political and social climate. The establishment of the Government will also lead to the resolution of security issues. Turning now to the security situation, we welcome the essential role played by MINUSTAH’s military and police personnel in stabilizing Haiti. Those individuals have also contributed significantly to establishing an efficient handover process to tackle the numerous security challenges, including organized crime, rape, attacks and kidnappings. Along those lines, my delegation continues to be deeply concerned by the number of kidnappings and attacks on MINUSTAH staff. We therefore stand ready to support MINUSTAH at its current levels of military and police personnel in guaranteeing support to the Haitian National Police, in order to ensure their ability to protect internally displaced persons and vulnerable groups. My country believes that it is also necessary, in the transfer of security responsibilities, to strengthen the training and capacities of police personnel in the various areas of border management and electoral security. We support the implementation of a zero- tolerance policy in all cases of sexual violence. We also support the adoption of the three-year strategic action plan aimed at fighting that scourge. Turning now to the humanitarian situation, we remain concerned by the persistence of the cholera epidemic in spite of the laudable efforts made to reduce the epidemic’s scale. Moreover, the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the camps remains a great concern for my delegation. In that context, Gabon welcomes President Martelly’s launching of a project to relocate internally displace persons from the six main IDP camps in Port-au- Prince. With respect to rebuilding, many projects have been undertaken since the earthquake. My delegation welcomes the infrastructure and equipment projects under way, as well as programmes being implemented jointly by MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, in cooperation with the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. Economic recovery — for which we call on the participation of all of Haiti’s development partners — will help to generate employment opportunities, which will not only improve the lives and living conditions of Haitians but will also result in a reduced crime rate. In conclusion, Gabon fully supports the authorized reduction in military and police personnel as a step in the progressive transfer of responsibilities to Haitian authorities. We also support the renewal of the MINUSTAH mandate as recommended by the Secretary-General. For its part, Gabon will continue to support the efforts of the international community in Haiti in order to help the country restore peace, prosperity and stability.

We are grateful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fernandez Amunategui for his briefing on the situation in Haiti. In spite of the difficult challenges faced by the country, it is encouraging that its leadership and people, with the active support of the international community, have been able to progressively stabilize the situation. We hope that President Martelly will continue to adopt genuine steps aimed at the swift launching of a national dialogue process and the sustainability of the current positive trends in the country’s development. My country calls upon all political actors in Haiti to demonstrate maximum calm and restraint and to resolve their disputes solely through legal mechanisms. The international aid provided to Haiti under the United Nations is unprecedented in scale. We welcome the efforts of the United Nations and regional organizations, including the Caribbean Community, to overcome the multifaceted crisis in Haiti. My delegation shares the conclusion of the Secretary-General contained in his report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2011/540) that the security situation in Haiti is gradually improving, due in large part to the work of peacekeepers and law enforcement personnel. However, the political, social, economic and humanitarian spheres of the situation in Haiti remain difficult. National law enforcement bodies are not yet ready to bear full responsibility for the protection of civilians. International efforts to provide comprehensive aid to Haiti, in particular relating to strengthening State institutions, should be continued in order to ensure that, in the future, Haitians can independently resolve all issues related to security and restoring and guaranteeing sustainable development in their country. Leadership roles on defining priorities in those areas should of course be played by national institutions. All aid to Haiti should be provided based upon unconditional respect for State sovereignty.

I would like to begin by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernandez Amunategui for his informative remarks on the situation in Haiti. The United States supports the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for another year under broadly the same terms as the 2010 mandate. MINUSTAH has been working tirelessly in Haiti to restore a secure and stable environment, to promote the political process and to strengthen Haiti’s Government institutions and rule of law structures, as well as to promote and protect human rights. MINUSTAH has provided vital security and logistical support during presidential and legislative elections, supported programmes designed to strengthen the rule of law and conducted capacity- building work with the Haitian National Police (HNP) through the HNP reform plan. The United States commends the role of the United Nations in previous elections and underscores the importance of United Nations assistance with the next round of partial national and local elections in Haiti. The United States supports the Secretary- General’s recommended reduction of two infantry battalions and the reduction in authorized strength of 1,150 formed police unit personnel, but notes that strong rules of engagement for the remaining MINUSTAH forces will be important to deal with a stable but fragile security situation in Haiti. The United States believes that any determination of the future size of MINUSTAH forces must be based on security conditions on the ground. We commend the work of the United Nations security assessment team, which led to those recommendations, and we express our hope for continued progress in Haiti. The United States agrees with the Secretary- General’s finding that the Haitian National Police has improved in some respects, but it is not yet in a position to assume full responsibility for the provision of internal security. The United Nations and the HNP jointly need to develop a new iteration of the HNP reform plan of 2006 and encourage Haitian ownership and leadership of the reform effort. We urge the authorities in Haiti to reach agreement to appoint women and men of demonstrated integrity and competence to Cabinet positions. The United States urges the authorities in Haiti to fulfil their pledge to fill all the six vacancies at the Cour de Cassation Supreme Court by 3 October 2011. That pledge by the Haitian President must be fulfilled in order to enable the judiciary in Haiti to function. We urge the authorities in Haiti to commit sufficient and lasting budgetary resources from their domestic budget to the HNP institutions, especially to build up the systems that will allow it to function on its own. The United States urges the HNP to fully support its Office of the Inspector General and give it the resources to help investigate allegations of wrongdoing at all levels of the Police. The United States urges the Government of Haiti to eliminate impunity and prosecute abuses of power. We believe that Haitian officials who are brave enough to investigate and marshal evidence against those acting with impunity must be allowed to do their jobs under the law without political interference in the due process of law. We are disappointed with the halt in the vetting process for cadets at the HNP noted in the Secretary- General’s report (S/2011/540). The United States urges the United Nations and the HNP to redouble the vetting efforts. We believe that vetting cannot simply occur when a cadet begins his or her career, but needs to occur throughout their careers, at least at every promotion in rank, to be a truly effective prevention tool with respect to impunity. The United States continues to play a leading role in international efforts to ensure that United Nations peacekeepers, military police and civilian, neither exploit nor abuse the vulnerable people they have been sent to protect. The United Nations has taken several critical steps in recent years to establish and implement a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel, including establishing a well publicized code of conduct and creating conduct and discipline units in the field to perform training, carry out initial investigations and support victims. In that light, we are deeply concerned regarding the recent allegations of severe misconduct by some MINUSTAH personnel. We welcome the public commitment of Uruguay to conduct a full investigation in cooperation with the United Nations into the incident. The Secretary-General recommended retaining the MINUSTAH engineering units that the Council authorized after the earthquake. The United States supports those recommendations. We applaud the military engineering battalions for working within the plans of the Government of Haiti and the civilian development agencies. We note with appreciation the creative collaborations between the civilian experts at the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the MINUSTAH military component’s tasking team. We note with appreciation the contribution that makes to stability. Lasting stability of course will come not only through the political and security arrangements but also through the work that major donors are doing to support Haiti’s long-term plans for economic development. To that end the United States applauds the recent vote by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission to approve the Government of Haiti’s 16 neighbourhood/six camps project to help internally displaced persons find housing. The use of the neighbourhood returns approach, instead of mere camp evictions, is the type of humane approach we fully support. The United States has adjusted its housing assistance programmes to be fully in line with that Government of Haiti initiative, and we have backed the same neighbourhoods-return approach in our $65 million housing programme disbursement to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund managed by the World Bank. We applaud the work of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the United Nations country team in Haiti to provide experts that helped the Government of Haiti design the programme in a manner that respects human rights.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernandez Amunategui for his briefing and we are grateful to him and all the personnel of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for their dedicated work. One and a half years after the devastating earthquake, the people of Haiti are still facing daunting challenges. There has been progress, but we remain concerned about the continued plight of the Haitian population. Despite the successful and peaceful conclusion of the presidential elections, Haiti is still paralyzed by political uncertainty. Political leaders in Haiti urgently need to live up to their responsibilities to end the stalemate and start working together. Restoring the credibility and leadership of the Government as well as the confidence of the Haitian people in their political system is a prerequisite for any real progress. Ultimately, both political and economic success will depend upon strengthening the rule of law in all areas of society. A lack of legal certainty is the biggest impediment to increased foreign investment. MINUSTAH is playing a vital role in maintaining peace, security and stability in Haiti and must continue to do so. We are grateful to all the troop contributors for their efforts. At the same time we should look into possible adjustments in the size and structure of MINUSTAH personnel in line with the security assessment presented to us. We are reassured to hear of the serious efforts undertaken by both the troop contributors and the Secretariat to enforce the United Nations zero- tolerance policy on misconduct by its personnel. This is indeed of paramount importance for the acceptance of peacekeeping forces anywhere in the world. With regard to the humanitarian situation, we welcome the results of the real-time evaluation on the impact of humanitarian action in Haiti commissioned by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The results clearly indicate the need to improve the link between relief, reconstruction and development activities. It also revealed a critical lack of longer term development perspectives, especially for those 600,000 persons still living in camps and shelters. The International Humanitarian Partnership’s field mission to Haiti planned for November will provide participating Member States with an opportunity to consider first-hand the value of United Nations-led multilateral humanitarian action and coordination. As incoming Chair of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Donor Support Group, we encourage all participating Member States to ensure participation from capitals in the field mission. In concluding, we concur with previous speakers that MINUSTAH’s continued presence, with gradual adjustments, still remains a prerequisite for the stability and development of the country and for peace and security in the region.

I wish to thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Mr. Fernandez Amunategui for his briefing. Since the powerful earthquake of January 2010, with the support and assistance of the international community, Haiti has resolutely undertaken post- disaster reconstruction and strengthened national security and institution-building with positive progress. Last May, the swearing-in of President Martelly marked a turning point. China wishes to register its appreciation and to welcome him. We also wish to thank the Organization of American States for the positive role that it has played in that regard. At present, Haiti is still faced with daunting challenges in areas such as sustained stability and post-disaster reconstruction. I wish to underscore the following. First, continuing to advance the political process to form a new Government as soon as possible is one of Haiti’s priorities. We hope that the parties will seize the opportunity, strengthen unity, enhance mutual trust, resolve disputes through consultations and consolidate the hard-won gains. The second point is supporting its post-disaster reconstruction in response to the cholera epidemic. To date, the pace of recovery and rebuilding in Haiti remains slow. The international community needs to keep its attention on Haiti, fulfil its contribution commitments and seek to provide constructive support and to create a favourable environment. International assistance and training projects need to be tailored to local conditions and real needs, taking the views of the Haitian side into full account. We welcome the Secretary-General’s initiative to set up a senior-level integrated task force to study the findings and recommendations of the independent panel of experts on the cholera outbreak in Haiti. We hope that appropriate recommendations can be implemented as soon as possible. The third element is supporting the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). China welcomes the contribution of MINUSTAH in helping Haiti to maintain security and stability. China hopes that, under the leadership of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fernandez Amunategui, MUNUSTAH will actively implement its Security Council mandate and stay focused on helping Haiti to maintain security and stability, advance its political process and play a dual role in strengthening the security sector and capacity- building.

I would like to join others in welcoming Mr. Fernandez Amunategui to the Council and in thanking him for his briefing. The United Kingdom welcomes today’s debate to discuss the current situation in Haiti. I would like to touch on three main topics in my intervention today: the current political situation, the role and configuration of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and the vital capacity-building work required to improve the standard of the Haitian National Police. We note, with some disappointment, that it has not yet been possible to appoint a new Prime Minister and to renew ministerial portfolios. The impasse risks raising political tensions and undermines the mood of increased confidence that prevailed following the elections and the inauguration of President Martelly. We urge the President and Parliament to show the necessary flexibility and spirit of compromise so that a Prime Minister can be appointed in the near future and Haitians can properly take the lead in the development process. We note that there appears to be increasing support for a reconfiguration of the Mission’s presence in order to respond more effectively to the challenge that Haiti faces. As United Nations Special Envoy Bill Clinton noted in his address to the Council in April (see S/PV.6510), troops may not be the most appropriate means of delivering development objectives on the ground. The United Kingdom has long held that view. We believe that there is growing consensus around the principle that peacekeepers should not be tasked to undertake reconstruction or development roles, which others are better able to perform. In our view, the continued presence of MINUSTAH’s military engineers in Haiti slows the momentum for other actors to step in, stifling, in turn, the development of the civilian private sector. We believe that MINUSTAH’s role is to maintain peace and security and to provide an enabling environment in which United Nations civilian agencies, with donor support, are best qualified to lead on reconstruction and development. There are worrying reports that many ordinary Haitians increasingly see MINUSTAH as an occupying force. There is a risk that its presence could become a barrier to the investment that Haiti so desperately needs. We were therefore disappointed that the Secretary-General’s report (S/2011/540) recommended only a partial drawdown of surge forces. We believe that the continued presence of large numbers of troops is counterproductive and that police officers, whether from the United Nations police or, ideally, the Haitian National Police, would be seen as a more sensitive and low-key presence on Haiti’s streets. It is our firm belief that the key to progress is the ability of the Haitian authorities to maintain domestic law and order. As the Secretary-General’s report recognizes, a Haitian National Police force that is fit for purpose represents the cornerstone of MINUSTAH’s eventual exit strategy. With that in mind, we welcome the most recent graduation of new police cadets in May this year. The Security Council must now maintain that momentum by empowering MINUSTAH to make the reform of the Haitian National Police its number one priority. In that regard, we look forward to the next iteration of the police reform plan and call on the Government of Haiti to engage fully in what needs to be a joint capacity- building effort. While that is under way, we agree with the Secretary-General that Haiti will require the continued support of MINUSTAH and international donors to bolster the capacity of its rule of law and security institutions. That means increased investment in development, including through the augmentation of the resources made available to the United Nations country team, which the Secretary-General has made clear is crucial to ensuring that an eventual downsizing of MINUSTAH does not create a vacuum. It is therefore imperative that we all respond and explore how non-military actors, from within the United Nations system and from elsewhere, can best assist Haiti. The United Kingdom shares the determination of all here today to ensure that the mandate of MINUSTAH will conclude successfully — and success, of course, means that United Nations peacekeepers will not need to return to Haiti. As Haiti enters a new era, it is important that the international community respond accordingly to ensure that it can stand on its own feet. We will continue to work with the United Nations and others to support that.

At the outset, I would like to join others in thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernandez Amunategui for his comprehensive briefing on the recent developments in Haiti and for the Secretary-General’s report (S/2011/540). Haiti has been making steady, but slow progress towards recovery since the devastating earthquake that struck the country on 12 January last year. Despite the death of an estimated 300,000 people, including civil servants, and the destruction of the capital, Port-au-Prince, the Haitians have shown tremendous resolve and determination to rebuild their country. The Haitians need the sustained support of the international community in this critical phase of recovery and reconstruction to improve governance, create employment and undertake comprehensive reforms, including in the police and judicial sectors. The relatively peaceful conduct of the electoral process and the transfer of power following the second round of presidential elections demonstrate the vibrancy of Haitian society. The role played by regional organizations, particularly the Organization of American States, in the later stages of the elections also gave credibility to the entire process. We join others in congratulating the new President, Michel Joseph Martelly, on taking over from the outgoing President, René Garcia Préval, and wish him success in his endeavours to restore political stability and to undertake economic and social reconstruction. The delay in the formation of the new Government has, however, slowed down the recovery efforts, and could affect the fragile security situation as well. Nearly 634,000 internally displaced persons are living in temporary shelters and depend on assistance for survival. The fact that only 47,000 have left those camps since March underscores the importance of effective administration and the need to accelerate efforts so as to create an environment conducive to facilitating their return. Reduced donor funding is also affecting reconstruction efforts. Clearly, the confidence of the donor community has been eroded by the political instability at the beginning of the year and the current stalemate in Government formation. Together with increasing food prices and unemployment, those developments make the affected population vulnerable to violence and exploitation. If Haiti is to recover quickly from the effects of last year’s disasters, the political leadership must show resilience in order to achieve much-needed reforms required to improve the living conditions of the Haitian population. It is therefore important that, as a first step, political leaders set aside their differences to reach a compromise on the formation of the Government. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has played a commendable role since the beginning of its mandate in maintaining overall security and stability. The earthquake and the resultant large-scale humanitarian efforts, as well as the presidential and legislative elections, created new challenges. MINUSTAH made sterling efforts, along with other United Nations agencies, in the immediate aftermath of the disastrous earthquake and also ensured peaceful elections this year. I also recall the contribution made by the Indian police officers deployed with MINUSTAH, presently numbering 470 in three contingents, two of which were deployed by India after the earthquake at the request of the United Nations. While the role of MINUSTAH will continue to be critical in the near future, it is a matter of satisfaction that Haitian national institutions have been gradually assuming larger roles, with the objective of ultimately taking over MINUSTAH’s responsibilities. Against this backdrop, MINUSTAH should focus its efforts on supporting the political process, capacity- building and the consolidation of Haitian national institutions. We therefore agree with the Secretary- General’s recommendation for a partial withdrawal or drawdown of the Mission’s post-earthquake surge capabilities. We also support the extension of MINUSTAH’s mandate for one more year, as recommended by the Secretary-General. The outbreak of the cholera epidemic affecting the Haitian population also resulted in wild allegations about its origin. We are happy to note that the independent panel of experts appointed by the Secretary-General to investigate the matter has not found any substance to those allegations. While efforts to fight cholera continue, there is a need to focus on providing clean drinking water and better sanitation conditions to the population so as to avoid regular recurrences of the epidemic. India made a modest contribution to the efforts of the Haitian authorities to deal with the situation there. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, India made a cash contribution of $5 million to the Government of Haiti towards relief measures as a token of its solidarity with the people of Haiti. India also contributed $500,000 to the Central Emergency Response Fund, which was put to good use in the earliest stages of recovery work in Haiti. We have also undertaken a waste management project as part of a joint India-Brazil-South Africa initiative. In addition, at the request of the President of Haiti, the Government of India will support the construction of 500 low-cost housing units. In conclusion, the continuing support of the international community, coupled with stable and effective governance in Haiti, would help the Haitian people to overcome the problems they are currently facing. It is our hope that Haiti will soon do so and move towards stability and development.

I shall now make a statement in my national capacity. At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Edmond Mulet for his services and sacrifices during his tenure as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), in an era that was characterized by challenges and difficulties. I would also like to welcome the new Special Representative, Mr. Fernandez Amunategui, and wish him success in his tasks during this very critical transition period in Haiti. Painful tragedies have long dwelled in the collective memory of the Haitian people and will continue to do so. This is particularly true of those witnessed in 2010, which included natural disasters and political and economic crises, starting with the earthquake, which has claimed the lives of 230,000 people and displaced more than 2.3 million to date, and ending with the cholera epidemic, which has taken many lives. The major steps taken by Haiti to rebuild its democratic system are heartening and give cause for hope. The most recent achievement was the stable and calm conduct of the presidential elections, which led to the peaceful transfer of power to President Martelly. In order to build upon those gains and avoid undermining them, Haiti must appoint a new Prime Minister. We therefore appeal to all parties to do so and to establish a new Government that can face the challenges and difficulties confronting Haiti in the tasks of reconstruction, social and economic development and building State institutions. We also express our appreciation for the efforts made by MINUSTAH and support the extension of its mandate. We support all efforts to restore human security and rebuild civilian capacity in Haiti. We hope that such undertakings will not be affected by the downsizing of military and police capabilities next year. In conclusion, I stress the fact that Lebanon stands side by side with the international community in its efforts to rebuild Haiti and establish a permanent and strategic partnership that would lead to a better future for the country. We appeal to donor countries that have provided support to the people and Government of Haiti to continue to do so and to provide relief in all areas. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

On behalf of my Government and the people of Haiti, whom I have the distinct honour of representing, allow me to begin by reiterating our warmest congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your leadership of the Security Council this month, which is full of various events and expectations. We also wish to express our confidence in the Council, which remains dedicated to making the contributions to international peace and security that are so essential for ensuring harmony between people and development. I would like to personally thank Mr. Mariano Fernandez Amunategui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and congratulate him on his masterly briefing. I reiterate the full support of the Government and people of Haiti for his most difficult and noble task. On 20 January (see S/PV.6471), on behalf of the Republic of Haiti, I expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Nations and emphasized the importance of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Mission’s presence on the ground has significantly helped to supplement the low numbers of Haitian National Police and contributed to its professionalization. As we consider the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2011/540) of 25 August, those feelings continue and will stay with us as we move forward. At the same time, we are aware that various unspeakable acts have aroused suspicions regarding some Mission staff, and that many Haitians have voiced their criticism. Happily, those issues have been rapidly addressed by the Secretary-General, who swiftly deployed a fact-finding mission on the ground to work with the Haitian authorities and MINUSTAH so as to determine the truth. In that regard, we can only commend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for taking swift action. Here, I should like to underscore the words of Mr. Gérard Gourgues, a great Haitian jurist and statesman who represented a defendant in a historic and highly publicized trial: “If the truth is to be found at the bottom of a well, then we must go to the bottom of that well to find the truth”. The report before us today shows that the situation has progressed somewhat. I need not recall that since 14 May Haiti has had a new President, His Excellency Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, elected on 20 March. Unfortunately, the country has yet to establish a new Government, in spite of the efforts being made across the board. This is understandable, as the President does not enjoy a comfortable majority in Parliament, and it demonstrates how democracy is taking root in my country and that each of the three branches of power is playing its role under the Constitution and laws of the country. A third candidate for Prime Minister has been nominated, and formalities in the houses are proceeding apace, which augurs well for the future. The security problem is not entirely resolved in my country, as we must not forget that many prisons were destroyed in the earthquake of 12 January 2010 and that many detainees escaped to resume their criminal activities. Fortunately, the Haitian National Police, helped by MINUSTAH and community police, have made praiseworthy efforts to apprehend the escapees. We also stress the importance of cooperation with various regional police agencies, which has allowed for the apprehension and repatriation of many of those individuals, who had fled abroad in the hope of evading the long arm of the law. We note with satisfaction the work of MINUSTAH in areas other than that of support to the police. The Mission participates actively in the creation of jobs for young people, making them less vulnerable to the aggressive temptations of organized crime. Furthermore, its support for various ministries and State institutions, including through its commitment to the rule of law, has been invaluable and we are grateful for it. Certainly, we should like to see the Mission more committed to development, but that is not in the mandate assigned to it under Chapter VII of the Charter. Perhaps Chapter VI would be another option. With respect to the social realm, significant efforts are under way. Some 20 million people lived in tents following the earthquake; that number has now slightly more than 600,000. This decrease can be attributed to various local representatives who have made temporary and permanent housing available thanks to the support of the Government and the international community. Life is returning to normal, and people are returning to work. It is true, however, that unemployment persists, and that is why the establishment of a Government, with the approval and support of Parliament, is more critical than ever. The return to school usually happens every year in September, but this year it has been delayed to the first week of October in order to implement a project allowing classroom access for more than 500,000 children who have never attended school. This project is ambitious, of course, but achievable, and will be financed in part by a minimal tax on telephone calls and money transfers. Launched in June, this innovative source of financing has been welcomed by members of the diaspora and the local population, and has already added $4 million to the State coffers. The President’s goal of ensuring that all school-age children return to school is important because, if young people are to be the future of the country, they must first be educated and trained so as to compete and produce. Haiti is at a crossroads that is most interesting and crucial to its existence. At this crossroads, young people are vigorously claiming their right to participate in the country’s public life and reconstruction, and where the needs that have arisen since 12 January 2010 oblige us to support them and to work for them and with them to ensure that their future is better equipped for the transition. However, we cannot do so without peace, security, the protection of lives and property, political and social stability, the rule of law and good governance. In that regard, MINUSTAH’s assistance is indispensable, given its commitments on the ground. We understand that the Mission must one day come to an end and that Haiti must begin preparing itself to shoulder its republican prerogatives and responsibilities. We also understand that a progressive drawdown of MINUSTAH is already desired and envisaged. We believe, however, than an abrupt withdrawal would be counterproductive and create an unprecedented vacuum, particularly given the fact that conditions conducive to the hoped-for large-scale investment and sustainable development are not yet entirely established. In conclusion, I reiterate my thanks to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for his unwavering commitment to countries in difficulty, including my own. The people and Government of Haiti wish him every happiness and success during his second term in office. I thank all members of the Security Council for their concern for my country, Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

Chile thanks you, Madame, for having convened this meeting, offering us a further opportunity to consider the situation in Haiti, and the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/540) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I should also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernandez Amunategui, for his informative briefing, and to reiterate my country’s support for his work leading cooperation in that Caribbean nation and to help its authorities in their efforts towards long-term development. I further reiterate the commitment we made in February 2004 to the stabilization and peacebuilding processes in Haiti, and to MINUSTAH’s work in promoting security, stability and the strengthening of institutions. Seven years after MINUSTAH began its work, and despite last year’s earthquake, we can see some success and progress. At the same time, alarming uncertainties and serious challenges have arisen in various areas, including the establishment of the rule of law and an effective and productive political and judicial system. We congratulate the people of Haiti on their recent peaceful democratic elections and on the progress that has been made in the area of security. We call on the political authorities to reach the national agreement necessary to ensuring that the international force can adequately perform its tasks. We also consider it essential to redouble efforts in the socio- economic sphere in order to promote comprehensive development in Haiti. Political stability and security are crucial to achieving that objective, and we therefore consider it essential that programmes be implemented that can help alleviate current levels of unemployment in Haiti. Any progress made will be sterile if we are not able to mitigate the country’s unemployment problem. Chile’s contributions to Haiti’s socio-economic development are focused on police training, education, child care, rural development, the environment, health and housing. Chile attaches great importance to the training of police in Haiti and reaffirms its commitment to continuing to work with the Haitian authorities in that area. In that respect, we consider it important to define the police model that we wish to implement, as well as the most urgent needs to be addressed. Similarly, as noted by Ambassador Fernandez Amunategui, we believe it important to favour quality over quantity in police training. We take this opportunity to highlight in particular the ongoing commitment of Latin America to the future of Haiti. Our countries have sought to work together on sustainable and coherent strategies to optimize our contribution to the peacekeeping Mission and to training and cooperation programmes with the Haitian National Police. Our experience has taught us the importance of maintaining a fluid dialogue with the Haitian authorities and to give priority to projects that can be implemented by local administrations, despite the difficulties encountered. Local participation in the design, implementation and assessment of projects allows the beneficiaries to assume ownership and helps gradually to generate local capacity, consecrating the concept of national ownership and, hence, sustainable results. Chile agrees with the Secretary-General’s recommendation concerning the reduction of troops and police personnel to the levels authorized prior to the earthquake, and concerning the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate. We also agree that there is a need to begin to develop Haiti’s institutional capacities so that it can gradually take over more national reconstruction responsibilities. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Chile’s readiness to continue to cooperate with the international community and Haitian authorities in the search for lasting peace, including full respect for human rights and strengthening the rule of law and democracy, and genuine progress in the level of development for its population.

I now give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.

Allow me to thank you, Madame President, for having organized this debate. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2011/540) concerning recent events on the ground, as well as proposals to address the situation during the coming months. In addition, we would like to welcome the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunategui, and to express our admiration and respect to Mr. Edmond Mulet for his work in Haiti over the past year. We pay tribute to the resilience of the Haitian population in overcoming a series of external shocks on the heels of the devastating earthquake of January 2010. These shocks have two serious consequences. First, they have created an ongoing humanitarian emergency that threatens the peace and stability of Haiti. Secondly, they have set back the development agenda, which was already seriously compromised even before the earthquake. These setbacks have reinforced the general impression that Haiti is trapped in a spiral of failures. However, there is nothing inevitable about that trend. We believe that Haitians can and must overcome them. They also deserve the support of the international community; for Haiti’s failure would also be our failure. Part of the external support gravitates around the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). It is understood that peacekeepers cannot remain in Haiti in perpetuity. However, in this renewed phase of MINUSTAH, it is important not to abandon Haiti prematurely. The question is how to fulfil our mandate while ensuring that the United Nations does not have to return in the next decade. As we all know, an exit strategy for the Mission had begun to be considered prior to January 2010. The new demands Haiti faces today certainly warrant a continued presence. Nevertheless, we think that the Mission should focus on priority areas tailored to the current state of affairs, with measurable targets and benchmarks and an eye to a future exit strategy. Among the priority areas that should be considered, political stability is an absolutely critical element. We applaud the historical peaceful transfer of power from a democratically elected President to an opposition successor. However, we are concerned that the taking of key decisions has to date been undermined by a lack of political consensus. A second obvious priority has to do with recovery and reconstruction. While we cannot return to the pre-earthquake situation, it is still indispensable to go beyond recovery towards economic and political development. Throughout the years, the rule of law, democracy, security and development have been the main areas of focus. Regrettably, they have not all been addressed in an integrated manner or dealt with the same level of commitment and resources. We have learned various lessons, and now understand the importance of building on and complementing existing strategies and programmes. A point of special concern in the report is the slow disbursement of the resources pledged to the earthquake recovery efforts for the period 2010-2011. In our view, a third priority for MINUSTAH is for the Government of Haiti, along with civil society, to begin to gradually take up some of the activities now undertaken by MINUSTAH. Under genuinely extraordinary circumstances, MINUSTAH undertook new responsibilities at the cost of advancing in key sectors such as those of security and the rule of law. We believe that there is enough support and resources in both these areas to be able to refocus our efforts. MINUSTAH cannot and should not take on the role and primary responsibilities of the State. We fully support the development of the proposed rule of law compact. We look forward with interest to the next five-year Haitian National Police development plan. We are proud to have been part of MINUSTAH since its establishment. We will remain committed to both Haiti and United Nations peacekeeping operations for as long as necessary. In that regard, we support the Secretary-General’s recommendation to renew the mandate of MINUSTAH for another year. We would like to express our solidarity with MINUSTAH, its personnel and Special Representative of the Secretary- General Mariano Fernández Amunategui. We believe that the Mission’s presence is having a profound and positive impact on the future well-being of Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

I would like to start by addressing my most sincere thanks to you, Madame President, as well as the delegation of Lebanon, for organizing this open debate on Haiti. I would also like to congratulate President Martelly on his electoral victory, and to wish him every success in his term of office. I would also like to welcome the new Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunategui, whom I thank for his presentation and wish success in carrying out his important functions. (spoke in English) Today’s debate is taking place at a very opportune time. The transition of power from one democratically elected President to the opposition is no small achievement, and carries the potential for many more democratic advances. Canada commends the efforts of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for its vital contribution to the maintenance of overall security and stability and to the ongoing consolidation of State authority in Haiti. As highlighted in the latest report (S/2011/540) of the Secretary-General on Haiti, there has been some progress on the ground, but daunting challenges persist and recent security gains remain fragile. Any changes to MINUSTAH’s composition or mandate should therefore be carefully considered to ensure that Haiti’s stability is preserved and that political challenges are addressed. Canada therefore strongly supports the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate for another year as recommended in the report. The United Nations peacekeeping presence needs to remain adapted to the needs on the ground. Canada therefore shares the Secretary-General’s assessment that the Mission is in a position to begin the process of returning to its pre-earthquake deployment levels. There is a continued need to support the Haitian State in its most fundamental functions, including maintaining public security, building democratic and good governance and establishing the rule of law. The Secretary-General recommends that the eventual downsizing of the Mission be accompanied by refocused efforts in support of the political process and the consolidation of State authority, as well as by assistance in building the capacity and accountability of State institutions. This is a responsible approach that should guide MINUSTAH’s future. (spoke in French) Canada contributes to MINUSTAH through the deployment of up to 150 police officers, 25 correctional officers and 10 military officers. Canada’s contribution to security sector reform and the rule of law also includes significant bilateral initiatives aimed at strengthening Haiti’s justice and security institutions. Canada is actively supporting the Haitian National Police through the construction of a new headquarters. In that regard, we must underscore that the support provided by Canada, MINUSTAH and other partners to the Haitian National Police will only bear fruit if the Haitian Government demonstrates its will to strengthen its own police force. I therefore encourage the Haitian Government to allocate adequate resources to the Haitian National Police and to take the necessary courageous decisions with respect to police force staffing and the vetting of candidates to ensure their integrity. Canada is also funding a series of initiatives aimed at reinforcing border security, addressing sexual violence against women and girls, reforming the prison system, improving detention conditions for prisoners, increasing access to justice for vulnerable populations and restoring the foundations of a functional justice system in Haiti. Furthermore, our country also takes pride in supporting Haiti in other critical fields to address both immediate needs and long-term recovery and development. The link between security and development in Haiti is well known. However, our commitment to continue our efforts in Haiti must now include a much stronger emphasis on political will, good governance and the rule of law. These aspects are crucial for the success of all efforts, whether on the part of Haitians or of the international community. Canada recognizes that the new President is driven by the political will and energy to achieve the change that is needed so urgently given the insecurity and impoverished economic and social conditions in which most Haitians live. Despite eight United Nations interventions and billions of dollars of international assistance over two decades, Haiti is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Change does not occur overnight. All political actors must commit to achieve sustainable progress. While political challenges remain, we hope that the new Government will soon be up and running. It is crucial for the State to continue efforts to strengthen democratic practices and institutions and to bring an end to impunity and corruption. In that context, we encourage political actors to enact constitutional reform; work towards the creation of a permanent electoral council; strengthen political parties; appoint judges and a head to the Cassation Court; and establish a Conseil supérieur du pouvoir judiciaire. We also recall that elected officials have a responsibility to the population that chose them as their leaders with the hope of seeing tangible results. This assessment explains why Canada strongly supports the Secretary-General’s proposal for the development of a rule of law compact. This could be a major step towards improving governance and the rule of law in Haiti. Canada intends to plan an active role in the implementation of this initiative. Canada also welcomed the fact that President Martelly included the rule of law as a priority for his presidency. We stand ready to support and assist him in this endeavour, which sends a crucial and encouraging political signal. (spoke in English) As international partners, we need to hold each other to account and make good on our promises to the Haitian people. We also need to be clear about the international community’s expectations, and that Haitian leaders will do the same.

I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.

At the outset, I wish to thank the Lebanese presidency for having organized this debate and allowed us to participate in it. I wish to take this opportunity to welcome the presence of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Mariano Fernández Amunategui. I thank him for his detailed briefing and wish him the greatest success. He can rest assured of Spain’s full support. I would also like to fully associate myself with the statement that will be delivered on behalf of the European Union. I should now like to make some remarks in my national capacity. This is a extremely important moment in Haiti’s recent history. For the first time in its history, there has been a peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected President to another, formerly of the opposition. President Martelly won significant popular support. The country is hopeful for a change for the better. It will not be easy. The challenges lying ahead are enormous and leave no room for delay. More than four months have passed since President Martelly took office; yet a prime minister has still not been appointed and no Government has been formed. This is hard to understand. We share the hope expressed by the Special Representative and other speakers that this situation can be rapidly resolved as soon as possible, for the country is in need of a Government that can take decisions and the international community needs an interlocutor to work with in implementing those decisions. We urge there to be constructive institutional dialogue between the executive and legislative branches. We appeal to the sense of responsibility of all of those in whom the Haitian people have placed their trust. The public interest must prevail. While the security situation has, fortunately, remained calm, we all know that this is only a relative calm given that the signs are not entirely positive. On the on hand, criminality has continued to grow. On the other, there is a heightened risk of social unrest resulting from the socio-economic and political situation in the country. As noted in the Secretary-General’s most recent report (S/2011/540), the Haitian National Police is still not ready to take over full responsibility for internal security. It is therefore crucial that the pace of the process of reforming and strengthening the Haitian National Police be stepped up, both in terms of personnel and resources. The humanitarian situation remains fragile. There are still 634,000 internally displaced persons in the camps. That is a lot — indeed, too many. Unfortunately, the pace at which this number was being reduced has slowed significantly, with only 47,000 returns since March. Cholera continues to pose a serious threat. In May and June, there was a spike in the epidemic. The death rate has gone down, but the incidence could rise. The total number of cases continues to be very high. With regard to reconstruction and development, it is clear what has to be done. Putting it into practice is, obviously, more complicated. We have a strong basis for doing so, following the international donors’ conference held in New York last March. First of all, we must all honour our own pledges. According to the report of the Secretary-General, as has been previously mentioned, only 37.8 per cent of the funds promised for the 2010-2011 biennium have been delivered. We also have appropriate tools at our disposal, including the Haiti Interim Reconstruction Commission and the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. We recently supported the extension of the Commission’s mandate for another year, until October 2012. We are acutely aware that interim means temporary. We have committed to improving its internal functioning and to creating conditions to allow it to be fully transferred to Haitian hands as soon as possible. With regard to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), we share the assessment of the Secretary-General and support his recommendation that the Mission’s mandate again be extended for another year, up to 15 October 2012, while its size is gradually reduced. The reduction proposed by the Secretary-General seems to us realistic, as does the proposal that it be partial and gradual. We would therefore urge the members of the Council and the Group of Friends to have a favourable view of these recommendations by the Secretary- General. The continuation of the presence of MINUSTAH in the medium term is necessary, we feel. We know that some Haitians are asking for its withdrawal so as to fully recover the sovereignty of their country, and it is true that some mistakes have been made, both in action and omission, but they have been isolated and infrequent. What is important is to correct those mistakes and to eliminate the factors that allowed them to take place. We know that the majority of the Haitian people appreciate the work of MINUSTAH and value — as do we — the generosity of contributing countries, the majority of which are Latin American, as they are best-placed to know the country and its particularities. I would like to pay them a well- deserved tribute in the Council. We applaud the excellent stabilization, humanitarian, reconstruction and development work carried out by MINUSTAH in difficult conditions. We should intensify our efforts to strengthen the rule of law. Without legal security or judicial and prison systems that are effective, and without an adequate revenue collection system, the development of Haiti will not be sustainable. We have expressed and reiterate our support for a rule of law compact, as proposed by the Secretary-General. Spain’s commitment to the Haitian people is solid and consistent with the values that we hold. We are the third largest bilateral donor. At the conference held in New York, Spain committed to contribute to the reconstruction of the country with $346 million, and we have already disbursed 68 per cent of this. We participate in the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and we are part of the consultative group of the Economic and Social Council. We will also be joining the Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment recently created by President Martelly. We also maintain a police contingent within MINUSTAH. As I said, our commitment is firm, and we have repeated this on many occasions, including in the biannual debates held by this Council. This is what we told President Martelly during his visit to Spain on 7 and 8 July 2011, his first visit to a foreign country after his election. Monday will be another opportunity to tell him this again, during the Haiti partners’ meeting.

I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

First, allow me to congratulate you, Madam President, on presiding over the Security Council for September. As we always do, we would like to say that we are grateful to be able to participate in meetings of the Security Council, in this case to analyse the current situation of and challenges facing the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in light of the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/540). Allow me, first of all, to welcome among us today Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunategui. When that distinguished Chilean official was appointed as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Argentina felt that he was representing us. He fully represents us all, we are sure. Despite the obvious difficulties that he will have to face in the future, we are sure that he will be able to fulfil his task successfully, namely, by achieving the objectives of the international community in Haiti. My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement be read shortly by Ambassador José Luis Cancela, the Permanent Representative of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, on behalf of the Group of Friends, so I am just going to share a few brief additional thoughts with the Council. Allow me to reaffirm, therefore, Argentina’s firm commitment to Haiti’s institutional stability. This has been evident over the past 17 years and can be seen today in our continued participation in MINUSTAH and in technical and bilateral cooperation with the Haitian Government. As the Secretary-General pointed out in his report, my delegation believes that MINUSTAH continues to be a decisive factor for finally establishing a secure and stable environment in Haiti. Likewise, we believe that the Mission contributes in a special way to maintaining peace and bringing about recovery and reconstruction of the country following the 2010 earthquake, while also providing essential support to the electoral process. For this reason, Argentina supports the extension by one year of the mandate of the Mission. Its presence continues to be required by the Haitian Government. While we support this renewal, my delegation also feels that it would be possible, as suggested by the Secretary-General in his report, to reduce the number of troops and to redirect the efforts of the Mission towards the development of institutional capacity and the strengthening of the Haitian State without undermining security and stability in Haiti. Argentina realizes that the political and social situation in Haiti continues to be a complex one, but we would like to stress the achievements since the earthquake, particularly in the area of strengthening democracy with the holding of peaceful elections and the peaceful passing of power from one democratically elected leader to another one who belongs to the opposition party. This further underlines the important contribution that the military component of MINUSTAH makes to reconstruction, a task that should be given adequate funding through the Mission’s budget. In that respect, my delegation feels that it is necessary to analyze future aims in greater depth in order to develop an orderly strategy for gradual withdrawal that will meet the needs of the authorities and people of Haiti and will address the situation of the country in terms of security and its interrelationship with sustainable development. In that respect, Argentina feels that the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the Haitian Government in accordance with national priorities and in the framework of appropriate coordination of international systems by the United Nations should be an essential component of that strategy. Furthermore, Argentina believes that institutional strengthening, among other aspects, in the area of the administration of justice, the promotion and protection of human rights and economic and social development is the key for fulfilling the mandate of the Mission. I conclude by stating, as my delegation has said on many occasions in the Council, that the objective of our work in Haiti is for the presence of the United Nations and of the international community not to be needed anymore owing to the ability of the Haitian authorities themselves take care of their economic and social development in that they have strengthened their own political institutions.

I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, namely, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Peru, United States and my country, Uruguay. I would like to congratulate you, Sir, and the delegation of Lebanon, for organizing this debate to enable us to discuss the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/540) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Group of Friends welcomes the presence amongst us today of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ambassador Mariano Fernández Amunategui, and we thank him for his broad ranging briefing. We would also like to underscore his appointment and thank him for having assumed the difficult task of leading the efforts of the United Nations in Haiti in a critical moment in the history of this country. As is indicated in the report of the Secretary-General, for the first time in its history, Haiti has seen a peaceful transfer of power between a democratically elected president and another from the opposition. On behalf of the Group of Friends, I would also like to thank Mr. Edmond Mulet for his tireless work as Special Representative of the Secretary- General and thank the entire staff of MINUSTAH for their dedication and selfless sacrifice. I would also like to express our firm support for MINUSTAH and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in his attempts to improve stability, security and governance in Haiti. At this crucial moment, the Group of Friends of Haiti once again expresses its continued support to the Government and the people of Haiti as they rebuild their country, consolidate peace, democracy and stability, and promote recovery and sustainable development. The Group expresses its satisfaction at the improvements achieved in the overall security situation. However, we recognize that political stability is essential in order to stay the course towards stabilization and reconstruction. The Group of Friends of Haiti therefore encourages representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Government to work in concert in order to meet the aspirations of the Haitian people in accomplishing the reforms. The Group is prepared to support Haitians in their recovery and in the implementation of the Haitian Government’s strategy, which will transform projects into realities, in close cooperation with the country’s authorities and MINUSTAH. The Group of Friends of Haiti would also like to stress the importance of cooperation between the international community and the Government of Haiti in meeting the needs of the Haitian people, particularly to help the more than 600,000 internally displaced persons living in more than 1,000 locations, as mentioned by the Secretary- General in his report. In that regard, the Group of Friends recognizes the efforts of the international community of donors and calls upon them to meet their commitments without delay. The Group also shares the concern expressed by the Secretary-General in his report with regard to the existence of sexual and gender-based violence in the districts of Port-au-Prince, particularly in internally displaced person camps, which is a problem that requires concerted and continuous action. The Group of Friends of Haiti would like to stress that security and development are very closely interrelated and are mutually reinforcing. Taking this factor into account, there is a need for security that goes hand in hand with economic and social development. At the same time, the Group would like to stress that there can be no genuine stability or sustainable development in Haiti without the strengthening of its democratic institutions. In that context, the Group of Friends of Haiti would like to stress the importance of promoting the rule of law by strengthening Haitian institutions. We would also like to reiterate the responsibility of MINUSTAH to support the Haitian State in the areas of the rule of law, good governance, the extension of State authority and the promotion and protection of human rights, in conformity with its mandate. The Group of Friends of Haiti reiterates the need for Member States and other interested parties to continue to support Haitian authorities in strengthening the basic structures of Government and in the implementation of the Haitian Government’s plan of action for recovery and national development as an efficient and coherent working framework. Finally, given the enormous challenges that Haiti still faces and the fundamental support provided by MINUSTAH, the Group of Friends of Haiti reaffirms the need to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH for one more year in order to allow the Mission to continue to meet its responsibilities in the current situation. The Group of Friends of Haiti also shares the assessment of the Secretary-General that a reduction in the military and police capacities would not undermine the progress that has been achieved to date in the area of security and would not affect the capacity of MINUSTAH to carry out its assigned functions. In the next few days, the Group will present a new draft resolution on the mandate and capacities of MINUSTAH for the consideration of the Security Council. Having come to the end of my statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, allow me to make a few brief comments in my national capacity with regard to the Uruguayan contribution to MINUSTAH. Currently, Uruguay maintains a deployment of 1,124 men and women, military and police, in MINUSTAH. Since the beginning of the Mission, in 2004, 10,000 Uruguayan men and women, working through the United Nations, have contributed their efforts to help to forge stability and a prosperous future for Haiti. Eight of them lost their lives in the service of the Mission. The Government and the people of Uruguay feel extremely ashamed at the complaints of presumed misconduct and abuse and sexual exploitation on the part of five members of the Uruguayan contingent in MINUSTAH deployed in Port Salut. We have emphatically expressed our rejection and indignation in the light of these facts. In view of this lamentable situation, the Uruguayan Government has reacted rapidly, drastically and unambiguously. We have designated one of our most high-ranking military officials to conduct investigations. He is currently on the ground and has expressed his willingness to carry out the investigation in close cooperation with the Office of Internal Oversight Services. He has also taken the step of referring the case to the ordinary criminal justice system of my country. This serious episode affects the image not just of Uruguay but also of the United Nations. Nevertheless, the Government of Uruguay is determined to carry out a full investigation and to take any appropriate measures in the framework of the impartial application of justice and guarantees of due process. That is our commitment to the people and the Government of Haiti, to the United Nations system and to our own people.

I now give the floor to Mr. Pedro Serrano, Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Union.

In the spirit of brevity, I shall read out an abridged version of the European Union statement, the full version of which is being distributed in the Council Chamber. The candidate countries of Croatia and Montenegro, the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. I should first like to welcome the presence of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunategui. I wish him every success in carrying out his duties. I also pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Edmond Mulet, for the services he provided during an extraordinarily busy time. We are pleased that, since our last debate in this Chamber on this issue (S/PV.6510), the country has, for the first time in its history, seen a peaceful transfer of power from a democratically elected President to another from the opposition. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that, several months after the election of President Martelly, political negotiations have not led to the effective appointment of a new Prime Minister and the establishment of a new Government. Political stability and the resolute action of a competent Cabinet are crucial to providing new momentum to the country’s reconstruction efforts. We encourage all parties to accelerate consultations and to work to establish a ministerial Cabinet that will be ready to rise to the challenges at hand. Turning to the security situation, while on the whole the situation has remained calm during the past few months, it could deteriorate given political tensions and frustration among the people. Indeed, while the Haitian National Police has gradually improved in effectiveness, it does not yet seem ready to fully guarantee internal security in the country. Appropriate transfer of expertise and the strengthening of institutions tasked with applying and enforcing the rule of law and to ensure better protection of vulnerable groups are, in our view, the priorities that must be addressed immediately, with the essential support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). MINUSTAH continues to play a primary role, and the European Union warmly welcomes the recommendations of the Secretary-General on extending its mandate. The European Union also notes the recommendations of the Secretary-General for a partial withdrawal of personnel. Finally, the European Union deplores the allegations of sexual abuse recently made against certain members of MINUSTAH and calls upon the United Nations to investigate those matters as quickly as possible. Along those lines, I take note of the declaration just made by the Permanent Representative of Uruguay. The European Union remains firmly committed to standing side by side Haiti in its reconstruction and development process over the long term. The financial commitment made by the European Union at last year’s international conference is a perfect witness to that. In order to better satisfy the various identified priorities, we have re-evaluated our programme for 2011-2013 in cooperation with member States and in close cooperation with the Haitian authorities. Infrastructure, governance, decentralization, health and education, food security and rural development remain our main areas of action. We also continue to provide budgetary support to ensure priority expenditures. The European Union will continue to provide substantial humanitarian aid in 2012. It is also essential for reconstruction and development projects to strengthen the resilience of both the Haitian population and public infrastructure in confronting natural disasters. Finally, we highlight our support for the principle of the gradual transfer of the coordination role of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission to the Government of Haiti, which should go hand in hand with the strengthening of national capacities. In that context, we support the extension of the Commission’s mandate and all initiatives aimed at strengthening its effectiveness. In conclusion, our role as the international community is to help the country to rebuild itself better. The European Union has demonstrated that it is able to turn its promises into tangible reality by working closing with the national authorities and the United Nations family in Haiti.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.