S/PV.6842 Security Council

As this is the first Council meeting for the month of October 2012, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Ambassador Peter Wittig, Permanent Representative of Germany, for his work as President of the Council during September. I am sure that I speak for all Council members in expressing my thanks to Ambassador Wittig and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the affairs of the Council last month. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Haiti, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Uruguay to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2012/678, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. I now give the floor to Mr. Fernández Amunátegui.

I would like to convey my sincere thanks to you, Sir, and the other members of the Security Council for having organized this meeting, the purpose of which is to present to the Council the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2012/678). I also take this opportunity to welcome the presence of the Haitian Ambassador. I would like to begin with a special thanks to all those countries contributing troops and police to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and all the Member States that have collaborated in the process of stabilization and reconstruction and provided valuable support to peacebuilding in Haiti. On 8 March, when I had the opportunity to review the political situation in Haiti, I noted that MINUSTAH had insisted on a governance pact, which is improving the situation and facilitating consensus for Haiti’s development. While progress has been slow, we can confirm that clear steps forward have been taken in the political stabilization process and progress has been made with regard to rule of law institutions. On 19 June, President Martelly issued amendments to the Political Constitution approved at the end of President Préval’s term, providing for, among other things, the establishment of a Constitutional Council; a minimum quota of 30 per cent for women in public institutions, especially public services; streamlining of the appointment of the Prime Minister; and the legalization of multiple citizenship as a positive gesture towards the hundreds of thousands of Haitians currently living in different parts of the world and contributing to the present and future of Haiti, in particular through remittances, which currently total approximately $2 billion per year. Moreover, the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, approved by law seven years ago, which oversees the transparency and independence of the judiciary, is another indication of the progress currently being made in Haiti in terms of the rule of law and of the political will of the Haitian authorities to strengthen democracy and its institutions, given that the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary allows for the establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council, an essential body for the holding of elections in line with the provisions of the reformed Constitution. Making the Office of the Ombudsman an official body and the appointment of a Minister for Human Rights and the Fight against Extreme Poverty are further proof of the hard work of the Government in the areas of the rule of law and the protection of human rights and the dividends that it is paying. The confirmation by Parliament in May of Prime Minster Laurent Lamothe and his programme focused on the five priorities of President Martelly’s Government — employment, the rule of law, environment, energy and education — are evidence of harmony and collaboration between the President and the Prime Minister, which are crucial for Haiti and its stability. The appointment of women to seven ministerial posts in a Cabinet of 22 further reflects the will of the President to apply the provisions of the reformed Constitution. Such will has also been reflected in various statements he has made, intended to ensure that future elections are carried out as soon as possible and with the greatest possible transparency. Furthermore, commendable work has been done by the Prime Minister to attract investment, fight corruption and smuggling, and promote industrial job creation projects, which are essential steps for Haiti’s economic recovery. An exceptional situation in Haitian political life is currently being played out in that the Senate, which is theoretically made up of 30 members, today has only 20 members as a result of the legal provision that terms automatically expire after six years with or without elections and that it is renewed by thirds every two years ; yet the quorum for its operation and voting continues to assume a Senate of 30 members. That continues to distort political life, with negative consequences for the democratic stabilization process in Haiti In addition, there is at present a serious impasse in the formation of the Permanent Electoral Council. According to constitutional provisions, this body, which is responsible for organizing all elections in Haiti, should be composed of nine persons, three appointed by each of the powers of the State respectively. The appointments by the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Executive did not comply with article 17.1 of the Constitution, on positive discrimination in favour of women, which mandates a representation of women in all public services of at least 30 per cent, as I already mentioned. Furthermore, the current situation in the Senate I have just described makes it almost impossible for the legislative power to reach agreement on its three nominees to the Permanent Electoral Council. The formation of an electoral body of nine members in accordance with the stipulations of the Constitution is an unavoidable prerequisite for any elections; its establishment will determine how soon the pending elections can be held to renew a third of the Senate as well as to elect all municipal mayors and councillors. That is why MINUSTAH is currently working in coordination with the international community to promote dialogue and prepare the way for the soonest possible establishment of a Permanent Electoral Council that is legitimate and legal and that enjoys the broadest possible support. While we can describe the security situation in Haiti as stable, it has the fragility inherent to a society in the process of being stabilized, characterized by precarious socioeconomic indicators and extreme poverty affecting a large portion of the country. In this respect, I would add that the information I presented in March on issues including poverty, illiteracy, education and the diaspora have practically not changed. In practice, political violence has disappeared. There has also been a considerable drop in the number of kidnappings. Although murders are on the rise, Haiti still has one of the lowest per capita murder rates in the Caribbean and Central America, and those murders are linked to gang activity and rivalries. However, it has been very difficult to fight domestic violence and the abuse of women. In a positive development during the month of May, Haitian authorities put an end to the illegal activities of a group of individuals linked to former members of the armed forces that were dissolved in 1995. They had occupied for some weeks public buildings and headquarters, calling for the re-establishment of the army and the payment of pensions. The President condemned the illegal occupations and called for public order. He also reiterated the fact that his current priority is to strengthen the Haitian National Police. The police, with the support of MINUSTAH, was thus able to evict the illegal occupiers from the 10 sites. Apparently, this matter is no longer an issue of concern for the public, and the Government has started, very practically, to train border police, coast guards and military engineers to work on infrastructure projects. From the very beginning, MINUSTAH and the international community recognized the sovereign power of Haiti and its right to establish an army or restore the armed forces dissolved in 1995. However, with the same clarity, the Government and the public have been told that any establishment of forces of that kind should not be to the detriment of the development, strengthening and professionalization of the police. It has also been indicated that the international community sees other important development priorities for Haiti, which should be a priority over any potential restoration of the armed forces. The police force has continued to evolve. On 30 August, Godson Orelus was appointed Director General ad interim of the police for a three-year period. In the same fashion, the Superior Council of the Haitian National Police endorsed a plan for 2012-2016 for the police, which, among other goals, states that by 2016 there will be a police force made up of more than 15,000 police officers. That task will call for the training of at least 5,000 new officials, or 1,200 a year until the end of President Martelly’s term. That represents an unprecedented and considerable training effort, and consequently also a significant and unprecedented budgetary effort for the Haitian Government. In terms of the police, the good news is that, after three months, the decision to dismiss 79 high officers with a history of crime and corruption from the force became effective. That serves to improve the credibility of the main security body in Haiti. The strengthening of the Haitian National Police is the highest priority for MINUSTAH, both because of what it means for consolidating the rule of law and improving security and because it makes it possible for a responsible conclusion of the Mission. In that, in accordance with resolution 2012 (2011), MINUSTAH has reduced its numbers. As mentioned by the Secretary-General in paragraph 50 of his report, given the progress in this area, he recommends that the Security Council consider a reduction from 7,340 to 6,270 troops and from 3,241 to 2,601 police, with a consequent drop in civilian personnel, in accordance with the reduced scope of MINUSTAH’s activities. Given the Secretary-General’s proposal, the Mission, together with the United Nations country team, has consulted the Government of Haiti on a consolidation and reconfiguration plan for MINUSTAH in accordance with the suggested reductions proposed to the Security Council. The plan, which is in a working phase at the moment, has as its primary goal making it possible for the Mission to fully carry out its task, thereby concluding its activities in Haiti. Among the main consolidation measures are the reduction of military personnel in five departments. They will be replaced by police officers. In those departments, the civilian representation of MINUSTAH will be decreased to an operational minimum. We plan to progressively apply this model in the coming period to facilitate the concentration and reduction of MINUSTAH’s activities in a rational fashion. Barring unforeseen contingencies, we are heading towards a final state of the Mission at a foreseeable point in time. Furthermore, events linked with sporadic and isolated protests by the sectors of the population that are most threatened by the fragile socioeconomic situation in the country highlight the fact that peace and security will be very fragile without economic and social development measures, which generate hope for the future in the population. We are already seeing this in different areas such as Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes. On human rights and humanitarian and correctional affairs, the Government’s efforts and international cooperation have made it possible to reduce the number of inhabitants of internally displaced person camps to 390,000. That is a remarkable effort, since it has reduced these numbers by 73 per cent. After the earthquake, the figure was 1.5 million people. However, the situation has deteriorated, as work by international organizations and non-governmental organizations has been curtailed due to the lack of financing. At the current pace, by the end of 2012 there will still be over 250,000 people living in camps for internally displaced persons. We therefore encourage organizations and Governments to cooperate in order to enable people to promptly and satisfactorily return to their places of origin or relocate to new areas that will welcome them on a permanent basis. Tropical storm Isaac, although it struck only in the south of Haiti, showed the fragile day-to-day reality of the Haitian people, as the loss of crops in that area and the paradoxical drought in other regions have caused a reappearance of hunger. Although hunger had not completely disappeared from the Haitian landscape, it had almost completely disappeared as a social and humanitarian problem. I must note that the response of the Haitian Government to this national emergency, together with the United Nations, and its response to the difficult food situation was appropriate and took the longer view, as shown in its appropriate coordination with humanitarian actors and the United Nations system, which made it possible to mitigate the crisis and prepare for new emergencies. Haiti continues to face serious challenges, especially with regard to the cholera epidemic, which is hanging over thousands of people every time the weather or social conditions worsen. Although it is true that there has not been a severe resurgence of the disease, there are continuous cases with fatal consequences. Cholera affects the entire island of Hispaniola, and we are therefore working on a plan to intensify prevention, fight the disease better and engage in all possible efforts to mitigate its effects. Among the many people living under difficult conditions in Haiti are those in prolonged detention, which are really illegal detentions. We have worked together with the Ministry of Justice, and we will quickly conduct concerted efforts in order to reduce and, if possible, put an end to this phenomenon, which is a serious violation of the human rights of hundreds of Haitian citizens. Most youth in Haiti do not have access to professional training because of economic reasons. That predisposes them to social exclusion and makes them a vulnerable population. They do not have the option of responding tomorrow to a State based on the rule of law or of fulfilling their social responsibilities, thereby fulfilling their own economic needs or those of their families. In order to counteract this vicious circle, strengthen the rule of law and promote peace and coexistence, MINUSTAH is supporting and financing violence reduction programmes in communities. For example, the Mission has supported 36 high-density manpower projects, which are focused on working on watersheds and urban infrastructure and rehabilitating canals. Those projects have made it possible to offer temporary jobs to 51,000 at-risk young people, of whom 30 per cent are women. The implementation of those projects has also helped to mitigate flood risk, improve urban sanitation in the wider community and present the world of work as a valid option. MINUSTAH has also devoted funding to quick- impact projects for earthquake-affected communities and to projects that focus on public lighting, road rehabilitation, local infrastructure such as multi-purpose municipal institutions, rule-of-law infrastructure, including peace courts, as well as education, including schools and municipal and departmental public institutions. Finally, peace missions are the concrete expression of a moral value, which makes them respectable on all continents. Participation therein is an honour for their personnel and for the countries whose nationals are working to carry out the lofty task of achieving peace and defending it wherever necessary. The Secretary-General has recalled that the first priority is the reputation of the United Nations. It is for that reason, inter alia, that in Haiti we have intensified our zero-tolerance measures against abuse of all kinds, especially the sexual abuse of minors. After eight years of work, the peacebuilding achievements registered by MINUSTAH in Haiti are clear. However, in order to continue to make progress, we must pursue our efforts to strengthen the rule of law, which will make it possible to harmonize the peace dividends achieved to date. In the quest to devise mechanisms that will strengthen those efforts, appropriate solutions should be found to the current challenges facing Haiti. Finding paths that facilitate dialogue and consensus among Haitians will be a key factor in building a country that can stand on its own and is equipped with democratic institutions that are capable of providing appropriate responses to the numerous challenges facing it now and in future. However, crucial economic and social challenges remain for Haiti. I wish to reiterate that security, the rule of law and economic and social development are three interdependent concepts that are essential to enabling Haiti to launch a process of renewal and consolidate a lasting peace in the country. In the absence of tangible progress that benefits the people in the areas of food, employment, health, housing and the environment, it could be difficult to maintain the current level of security in that Caribbean nation, which is due in great part to the contributions made by the international community since 2004. The time has come for public, private, national and foreign investment. The time has come for projects to be carried out that demonstrate that the economy is moving forward and that Haiti and its people have a future. Here I should like to pay tribute to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, former President Bill Clinton, for his ongoing efforts and initiatives aimed at encouraging investment in Haiti. Of course, these issues go far beyond the tasks and mandate of MINUSTAH, but I feel I must make mention of the situation, as this aspect is essential to the fulfilment of the objectives of the Mission and the completion of the mandate entrusted to it by the Security Council, so that there will be no need to return to Haiti once again. If efforts in the areas of the economy and employment bear fruit, I anticipate a reconfiguration of this peace Mission into a political mission of the United Nations, with emphasis on the rule of law and human rights as well as an advisory and monitoring component on police work, by means of a mission embedded within the Haitian National Police itself. I believe that this would be the best possible final stage of the work of MINUSTAH in Haiti.

I thank Mr. Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala. Allow me to deviate from past practice by taking the floor at the beginning of our debate instead of at the end. I am doing this because I consider it an honour for Guatemala, as well as a personal honour for myself, to preside over this first substantive meeting of the Security Council during the month of October. This is for us a historic event; this is the first time that Guatemala has assumed the presidency of the Security Council since the founding of the United Nations. I did not want to wait until the end of the debate to make mention of that fact. We are all the more pleased given the topic of today’s debate: the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), above all because of Guatemala’s commitment to Haiti. As the Council is aware, the countries of our region feel a sense of ownership regarding MINUSTAH. Twelve Latin American countries contribute troops and police; and the Force Commander has always hailed from our region, as has, most of the time, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We are pleased that a Guatemalan, Edmond Mulet, has in the past occupied this important post. We are also pleased that our troops have been present in Haiti since the establishment of the first Mission in 1993, and continuously since the establishment of MINUSTAH. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of making a brief visit to our contingent of 137 personnel in Port-au-Prince; I also took that opportunity to visit MINUSTAH headquarters. This debate therefore has a strong personal resonance for me, for my country, for my region, and, of course, for the United Nations. In that regard, I would like to make just three brief points. First, we believe that the report of the Secretary- General (S/2012/678) paints a promising picture. It combines the required caution with the hope necessary to continue moving forward. We congratulate Haiti on the swearing in of a new Government, the publication of the correction version of the constitutional amendments and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. All of those achievements represent important milestones in Haiti’s efforts to strengthen its democratic and rule-of-law institutions. We are also pleased that the establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council is back on track after some setbacks, and we trust that the electoral process in Haiti will resume after delays of almost one year. Secondly, Guatemala will remain committed to Haiti and to United Nations peacekeeping operations for as long as necessary. We support the MINUSTAH reconfiguration and consolidation process. We look forward to more details on this new consolidation plan. Carrying it out will require intensive coordination among a wide range of national and international stakeholders, and it will be subject to various development and implementation timelines. With regard to security, we note that the level of operational effectiveness of the Haitian National Police will constitute the main benchmark in setting the pace for the drawdown of the Mission’s uniformed personnel. We fully support the development of a transition compact that will make it possible to measure the progress made in the stabilization process, going beyond the work of MINUSTAH into the realms of development and institution-building. In that respect, we welcome the recent launch of the aid coordination mechanism presented by the Haitian authorities last week in New York at the beginning of the general debate. Thirdly, I would like in particular to commend the work done by Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSTAH during a period marked by difficulties and challenges. He has carried his work forward in an outstanding manner, as evidenced this morning by his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General. Guatemala will continue to support his work. In conclusion, I should like to stress that Guatemala fully supports the international community’s efforts to assist Haiti in the reconstruction and strengthening of its institutions through a permanent and strategic partnership aimed at creating a better future for Haiti. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council.

I thank Special Representative Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing. Before I begin, I would like to congratulate Guatemala on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the first time. In February, the United States led a Security Council mission to Haiti. The mission witnessed at first hand the great strides that the Haitian people are making in rebuilding their country following the devastating earthquake. However, we also came away with serious concerns, which we expressed at our debate in March (see S/PV.6732). At that time, political gridlock threatened Haiti’s stability and progress. The Prime Minister had resigned after only four months in office. Relations between the executive and legislative branches of Government had deteriorated. The appointment of key officials and important constitutional amendments were stalled. Election planning lagged. Both in Haiti and in the Chamber, the Security Council called on Haiti’s political leaders to set aside their disparate interests and to come together for the sake of the nation. Seven months later, Haiti’s future looks more promising. As Secretary Clinton noted at the ministerial-level meeting of Haiti’s partners last week, the country is starting to move forward. Haiti’s political leaders are showing a willingness to cooperate and to put the Haitian people first. It is imperative that they continue to do so. On 14 May, the Haitian Parliament ratified the appointment of a new Prime Minister. On 19 June, President Martelly published a series of constitutional amendments that strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Haiti. Those amendments pave the way towards an independent judiciary under the Superior Council of the Judiciary and mandate the formation of the Permanent Electoral Council (CEP). We look forward to providing support to the Superior Council and to the final establishment of the CEP so that the long-overdue elections can proceed. The Government of Haiti is also tackling gender inequality with a new constitutional requirement that women hold at least 30 per cent of Government positions. We welcome the possibility that many more Haitian women will now be able to shape the future of the country. On security, the Government of Haiti has assumed greater responsibility for supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) with increased financial resources and a deeper commitment to security and justice sector reform. The Government hosted a summit meeting on the police in June and endorsed a five-year national development plan for the HNP that aims to boost its size and quality. For the HNP to play its rightful role in protecting the people of Haiti and in enabling the country’s development, the sustained support of the Government and the international community for that development plan is essential. That must include greater attention to police recruitment and training and to combating sexual and gender-based violence. Ensuring that the HNP has sufficient personnel and the resources to do its critical work remains a top priority. Improvements in security and the rule of law will create more economic opportunities for the Haitian people. The joint aid coordination mechanism, recently launched by the Prime Minister, can help ensure the alignment of donor assistance with Haitian priorities, as well as the transparent and efficient use of international aid. That mechanism is an important step and deserves our support. We call on all countries that have pledged assistance to fulfil their commitments through the joint aid coordination mechanism. As the Secretary-General’s report of 31 August (S/2012/678) details, Haiti has made progress, since the Security Council debate in March, in addressing the international community’s concerns. We should not forget that the presence and the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) have been central to the country’s recovery from the earthquake and to its recent progress. The Mission has helped to provide a more secure and stable environment in Haiti; it has strengthened the country’s institutions, protected civilians and safeguarded human rights. The United States supports renewing the mandate of MINUSTAH for another year, so that it can continue assisting the Haitian Government and people in meeting the challenges ahead and can hasten the day when United Nations peacekeepers are no longer needed. The reconfiguration and consolidation of the MINUSTAH footprint in Haiti is a delicate balancing act that we cannot afford to get wrong. So as not to jeopardize overall security, the United States supports the Secretary-General’s recommended consolidation and partial drawdown of MINUSTAH forces from the post-earthquake surge to nearly pre-earthquake levels. Those changes will reflect the progress that Haiti has made but will also enable MINUSTAH to continue executing its mandate effectively. Moving forward, we must remain mindful of the risk that too quick a drawdown could undermine the gains achieved thus far. The United Nations must also ensure that MINUSTAH personnel consistently adhere to the highest standards in performing their work, that any allegations of sexual misconduct are thoroughly investigated and that the perpetrators are held to account. With that adjustment, the United States will consider future changes in the MINUSTAH force level on the basis of the conditions on the ground. We look forward to the time in the not-so-distant future when that force will no longer be needed. However, much work remains to be done in Haiti. For example, there are far too few jobs and insufficient housing to meet the needs of Haitian families. The United States recognizes the importance of socioeconomic development in cementing stability and catalyzing long-term growth. We have been working with the Haitian Government, the Inter-American Development Bank and other partners on a comprehensive development plan for Haiti’s northern areas that can attract investment to create jobs and spur economic development. We have just signed a partnership agreement with Haiti that outlines America’s contribution, under Haitian leadership, to Haiti’s national health plan for the next five years. In addition, the housing of internally displaced persons remains a priority. Forthcoming United States housing developments will shelter thousands. Haiti is gradually moving beyond crisis management to a long-term recovery. Its democratic institutions are becoming stronger. Security has improved in parts of the country and the lives of the Haitian people are brightening. The United States will remain a steadfast friend of Haiti. We are hopeful that, with the continued support of MINUSTAH, the contributions of international partners and the hard work and determination of the Haitian people, Haiti will indeed reach its full potential.

I take this opportunity to underscore the words of Ambassador Rice with regard to the fact that international assistance should ensure economic development and the creation of jobs over the long term. That is indeed the only way in which the Mission can succeed.

Allow me to begin by congratulating you and your country, Mr. President, at this important time for the friendly nation of Guatemala, on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council — as you said, for the first time in its history — for the month of October. Half way through Guatemala’s term on the Security Council, you can already be proud of your country’s contribution to the work of the Council. Allow me also to thank Special Representative Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing and to convey to him and the entire team of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) our full appreciation for their efforts to assist Haiti in its stabilization and development. More than two years after the disaster that struck the Republic of Haiti, significant and notable progress has been made, following the delays already pointed out in implementing certain key measures in the country’s stabilization process. Morocco welcomes the efforts of the Haitian authorities to conclude the institutional reforms needed to strengthen the rule of law. The Senate’s approval of the appointment of a new prime minister, the publication of the amended 1987 Constitution, the appointment of judges to the appeals court, the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the launching of the process to implement an Electoral Council are all significant and essential stages carried out to bolster State institutions in accordance with the commitments undertaken by the Government. Also, the participation of women in the Government has been raised to 30 per cent. We welcome that and the allocation to women of the strategic portfolios of finance and tourism. We also welcome the adoption and promulgation of the law on the functions of the Ombudsman. Turning to security, we welcome the peaceful manner in which the authorities re-established order following the incidents of 17 April incited by former members of the army and young recruits. That incident demonstrates the urgent need for the Haitian Government to accelerate the training of the 15,000 police officers stipulated by the five-year development plan in order to cover the entire territory by 2016. Concerning the humanitarian situation, while significant progress has been made in removing rubble and rehousing displaced persons, the needs remain enormous. More than 400,000 people are still living in more than 500 camps. The situation is all the more worrisome because the gradual withdrawal of various humanitarian groups due to the lack of resources, which contributes to the deterioration of the situation. Since its establishment, MINUSTAH has amply and decisively contributed to the operations for the recovery and stabilization of the country. We were able to see that with our own eyes when the Council visited Haiti at the beginning of the year. We must congratulate the entire Mission staff for what they have accomplished to date despite obstacles and hardships. While giving full credit to the Haitian Government for taking charge of the tasks indispensible to the safety and well-being of the people, we believe that MINUSTAH should continue to support the Government’s efforts and should gradually reduce its presence as the situation improves and stabilizes. In that regard, my country supports the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report (S/2012/678). The proposals in that report with respect to a reduction in MINUSTAH staffing strike us as realistic for a smooth transition and a progressive withdrawal, with MINUSTAH concentrating its activity on the primary tasks identified in the report. More than two years after the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti, the task before the Haitian authorities remains difficult and filled with challenges. It is up to them, of course, to redouble their efforts, demonstrate their unshakeable commitment to reconstructing the country, reinforce good governance and set in motion the reforms needed to rebuild trust, consolidate stability and encourage outside investment. Nonetheless, the support and assistance of the international community, the United Nations and international financial institutions remains indispensable and critical to enable the country to return to normalcy and meet the aspirations of its people. Morocco, for its part, whose Royal Armed Forces contributed to Haiti’s return to peace and helped to mitigate the humanitarian impact of the 2010 quake, remains committed alongside the friendly people of Haiti to strengthening the gains made and to building a peaceful and prosperous future for Haiti.

Please allow me, at the outset, to congratulate you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Council. I am indeed very honoured to be here when you are presiding over the Council, especially since you mentioned that this is the first time that your country is presiding over the Council. By association we are very honoured. I also wish to express our deep gratitude to your delegation for having been our partner in the Council and for our very close cooperation with your Ambassador and the entire delegation. We wish to thank them for organizing today’s debate. I would like to join others in expressing our sincere thanks to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for presenting the Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2012/678) and for his briefing on the recent developments in Haiti. We are encouraged by developments in Haiti over the past few months, including the appointment of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and its ratification by the Parliament in May. Those developments have ended the political uncertainty and underscored the collective resolve of Haiti’s leadership to work in a constructive manner to address various issues related to governance, the economy, elections and reconstruction. We commend the steps taken by the new Government for improving the situation with regard to law and order, attracting foreign investment, promoting new industrial projects and combating smuggling. We also commend the steps to resolve differences between the executive and legislative branches of the Government and hope that the newly established Constitutional Court, the Electoral Council and the Superior Council of the Judicary will satisfactorily settle the outstanding issues. For those steps to succeed, Haiti requires the continued support of the international community. In that connection, we commend MINUSTAH for assisting the Haitian National Police in ensuring a stable security situation across the country. We think international support needs to be enhanced, particularly in the implementation of the 2012-2016 Haitian national police development plan. We hope that the local elections due since last year will be held soon and will help in rebuilding democratic institutions at the grass roots level. While there has been substantial progress in resettling the internally displaced persons and addressing their humanitarian needs, recovery and reconstruction efforts continue to face a number of challenges. Nearly 400,000 persons remain dependent on humanitarian assistance for their basic survival. Assistance is also required to fight the cholera epidemic. For long-term improvement in the situation, the international community needs to align its efforts with Haiti’s national development priorities. In that regard, we welcome the creation of the Housing and Public Buildings Construction Unit in the office of the Prime Minister, which will contribute to the improved coordination and effective implementation of humanitarian programmes. We also welcome the new integrated strategic framework for 2013-2016, drafted by MINUSTAH in consultation with the authorities in Haiti. MINUSTAH and its leadership played an important role in the positive developments in Haiti. MINUSTAH has not only helped Haitian stakeholders in resolving their differences; it has also lent its hand in capacity-building and in the recovery efforts of national institutions and in ensuring overall security and stability in the country. With Haitian national institutions assuming a greater role, MINUSTAH should gradually hand over its core functions to the Haitian National Police and focus on long-term stabilization and development goals. In that context, we support the recommendations of the Secretary-General to narrow MINUSTAH’s activities to a core set of mandated tasks that are achievable within a reasonable time frame. MINUSTAH’s drawdown should, however, be based on the evolving situation in the country rather than as a fixed timeline. India has remained a major contributor to MINUSTAH with three contingents of formed police units (FPUs). Our FPUs are playing an important role in maintaining peace and stability in Haiti, including the guarding of the Presidential Palace. In addition, the Indian FPUs have arranged blood donation camps for the benefit of the Haitian people and earned their goodwill. India remains committed to supporting Haiti in its reconstruction activities. In September, India donated $5 million for the construction of 500 low-cost housing units for the victims of the January 2010 earthquake. Earlier, India donated $5 million in cash as disaster relief assistance. India has also been contributing $500,000 annually since 2009 to the Central Emergency Response Fund, which continues to play an important role in recovery work in Haiti. India is also cooperating with Haiti in capacity-building and human resource development by offering scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme. In conclusion, let me state that, while Haiti has come a long way since the devastating earthquake, the international community should continue its engagement so that Haiti is able to achieve sustainable peace, security, stability and development. As Haiti assumes the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community next year, we convey our best wishes to the Government and people of Haiti and we assure them of our continued partnership.

I would like to congratulate you and your country, Mr. President, on you assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the first time, as well as to thank you for having convened this important debate. I wish you and my friend Ambassador Rosenthal and your very able team every success this coming. There is no need to underline the fact that your country can count on Germany’s full support. (spoke in English) I would like to join others in thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing. I would like to focus my statement on three main topics: the current political situation, the security situation, including the need to further strengthen the Haitian National Police, and the role of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) under its reconfiguration. We welcome the fact that there are clear indications that Haiti is moving towards a better future, albeit slowly. We have seen some important milestones, such as the swearing in of a new Government and the publication of the corrected version of the constitutional amendments that were pending when the Security Council visited Haiti earlier this year. At the same time, we are concerned about the refusal by the Haitian Senate and Parliament to name their representatives to the Permanent Electoral Council and about the recent withdrawal of the three members nominated by the Superior Council of the Judiciary. A functioning Electoral Council is indispensable for the elections mandated by Haiti’s Constitution. All parties need to make a renewed and speedy effort towards a credible Permanent Electoral Council with all members on board. Preparations for the elections must begin without further delay. We are encouraged by the progress reported on the security front, including Government measures to contain elements of the former armed forces who had been illegally occupying sites throughout the country. Security and stability should increasingly be provided by an effective Haitian National Police. We welcome President Martelly’s stated intention to focus on the continued strengthening of that institution, so that it can provide security throughout the entire territory of Haiti. We are encouraged by recent steps undertaken by the Government to increase the number of police recruits, in particular female ones. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti should not be in charge of long-term reconstruction efforts. The Mission needs to continue to draw down its post-earthquake surge in activities. In that sense, I welcome the suggestions contained in the Secretary- General’s report (S/2012/678) about MINUSTAH’s reconfiguration and consolidation plan. The Secretary- General’s proposal that MINUSTAH further concentrate its efforts on mentoring and developing the Haitian National Police, and gradually phase out operational policing activities, goes in the right direction. A corresponding reduction of MINUSTAH’s troops, as proposed by the Secretary-General, seems feasible but requires a further build-up of the Haitain police. That is why clear benchmarks will be required as foreseen in MINUSTAH’s reconfiguration and consolidation plan. Finally, I would like once again to thank the troop — and police-contributing countries for all their efforts. We will continue to give our full support to the Mission and to the Government and people of Haiti.

Allow me, at the outset, Mr. President, to congratulate you and the delegation of Guatemala on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. I would like to assure you of our full cooperation and support. It is also my pleasure to congratulate Germany on its successful presidency and on all its efforts in steering us through the busy month of September. We are also grateful to the Secretary-General for his recent report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2012/678), and to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing. I would like to commend the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the United Nations country team, which continue to play a crucial role in supporting the recovery and stabilization of Haiti. As the Secretary-General noted in his report, during the reporting period a number of long-awaited political milestones were achieved, indicating that the process of stabilization continues to progress in Haiti. The achievements include the swearing in of a new Government, the publication of a corrected version of the constitutional amendments that provided the basis for the organization of the Permanent Electoral Council and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. We also commend the steps taken by the Government to move forward with the country’s socioeconomic development. At the same time, redoubled efforts are needed to combat unemployment and poverty. In the light of the progress achieved in recent months, it is essential to continue consistent efforts in rebuilding the country, strengthening institutions, attracting investment, promoting sustainable development and advancing the democratic agenda. Political stability in the country is a key factor for the stabilization and development of Haiti. It is therefore important that all political leaders take a responsible approach and engage in constructive political dialogue to address their differences in a spirit of compromise. Such dialogue is particularly important for the holding of credible and long overdue elections. We note with satisfaction that the overall security situation has been relatively stable during the reporting period. However, the high rate of criminality remains a matter of serious concern. While the role of MINUSTAH in the maintenance of overall security and stability remains vital, we note that the Haitian National Police (HNP) continue to gradually improve. We commend the Government’s recent successful measures to dislodge illegal armed groups. Close cooperation between the HNP and MINUSTAH is critical to effectively addressing security challenges and to ensuring that the police move forward to reach the capacity necessary to handle full responsibility for the provision of internal security. The protection of vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and internally displaced persons, should remain the priority. The humanitarian situation in Haiti continues to show signs of improvement as the number of internally displaced persons living in camps has declined. However, significant humanitarian challenges remain. Continued strong international engagement and efforts by the Haitian authorities are crucial to ensuring that all pressing humanitarian needs are met. Lastly, I would like to express our support for the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH, taking into account the proposed adjustments pertaining to a reconfiguration and conditions-based consolidation of the Mission.

I am privileged to deliver this statement on behalf of my Permanent Representative. We welcome you, Mr. President, to the Council. We congratulate Guatemala on assuming the presidency of the Council, and we commend Germany for its able stewardship in September. We also thank the Secretary-General for his report contained in document S/2012/678. Pakistan fully supports peace and progress in Haiti, which is a collective objective for the Haitian people, the Council and the international community. The brave and resilient people of Haiti have made important strides towards stability and development. The devastating earthquake of 2010 reversed the gains achieved incrementally over many years. It is heartening that a new and promising Haiti is emerging from that tragedy. In that regard, the Secretary-General has also noted important milestones reached in Haiti recently. Those include the formation of a new Government, the publication of constitutional amendments and the establishment of a Superior Council of the Judiciary. On the road to political stability and economic prosperity, such measures have far-reaching significance. In parallel with reaching political milestones, the Haitian Government is also taking important steps to attract foreign investment, improve governance and promote industrial projects. We hope that the new aid coordination framework will strengthen the capacity of the Haitian Government to manage external resources with the support of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. We share the optimism that Haitian leaders have an opportunity to make genuine progress in rebuilding the nation and strengthening institutions. The initiatives of the Haitian Government must be supplemented by greater economic and trade cooperation from the international community. Besides the commitment of the Haitian Government, progress and development in Haiti are also attributable to the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Mission is already implementing a challenging mandate in the areas of security, support for the political process, the protection of vulnerable groups, justice and corrections, and human rights monitoring. The reconfiguration or drawdown of MINUSTAH must therefore be planned carefully and be based on the situation on the ground. It should not lead to a reversal of gains painstakingly achieved in Haiti. We look forward to the transition compact that MINUSTAH will work out with its stakeholders with a view to setting out precise benchmarks in the area of security, the rule of law, accountability mechanisms and legislative regulatory frameworks. The political developments in Haiti need to be consolidated by a strong security sector. Besides providing safety and security to the Haitian people, a self-sustaining national police institution is also essential for the eventual withdrawal of MINUSTAH. The objectives and benchmarks of the Haitian National Police development plans, presented by MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police, must be forthrightly met. Recent steps taken by the Haitian authorities to increase the number of police recruits, in particular females, are encouraging and we welcome such steps. The capactity-building and training of the Haitian National Police, together with budgetary support for its expenses, should remain a matter of high priority. Today’s debate should also underscore the challenge of addressing the humanitarian situation in Haiti. The ongoing cholera epidemic, food insecurity and the extreme vulnerability to national disasters increase the humanitarian challenge. We will urge greater coordination and cohesion among different actors engaged in humanitarian work. We will also caution against donor fatigue, which can result from protracted crises such as the one unfortunately faced by Haiti. Pakistan has been a participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Haiti since 1993. As part of MINUSTAH, two formed police units from Pakistan have deployed since the 2010 earthquake. In 2005, the people of Pakistan suffered the worst earthquake of their history. Five years later, when a similar tragedy befell our brothers and sisters of Haiti, the people of Pakistan felt their pain as our own. Our solidarity with the Haitian people has not waned since then. It is with that spirit that we will continue to support the people of Haiti in their quest for stability and progress, as well as to uphold the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of their country.

At the outset, allow me to congratulate your country on assuming the presidency of the Council. I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, for his briefing. I would like to associate myself with the statement to be made later by the observer of the European Union, as well as that to be delivered by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends. Since our last meeting in March (see S/PV.6732), undeniable progress has been made in Haiti, on the political and institutional fronts first and foremost. I will not list the measures taken by the Haitian Government, as others before me have already done so. The political and institutional stability of the country has been strengthened. With regard to security, the Secretary-General has recalled that the situation is calm but precarious. Crime remains a problem, particularly in Port-au-Prince, but no more so than it is in other countries of the region. The Haitian National Police has demonstrated its ability to undertake comprehensive operations with the support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). With regard to the humanitarian issues and reconstruction, the decrease in the number of internally displaced persons, the clearing up of the earthquake damage and the progress with regard to health and education should be noted. After a downturn in the gross national product, Haiti has once again found the path towards growth. However, the country continues to face humanitarian challenges, with 390,000 people living in refugee camps and a cholera epidemic that has not yet been stemmed. Allow me to mention three of the challenges that remain. The swift holding of local and partial legislative elections is essential, as those elections have been delayed for too long, as Mr. Fernández Amunátegui noted. To that end, a Permanent Electoral Council, based on consensus and in line with the spirit of the Constitution, must be established. We call upon all the political stakeholders concerned in Haiti to work towards that objective. France stands ready to provide its support, in particular through MINUSTAH, for the holding of free, credible and transparent elections. The Haitian National Police is not yet able to independently guarantee security and stability in Haiti. We noted the objectives presented by the Haitian authorities for the period 2012 to 2016, including the goal of increasing the number of police officers from 10,000 to 15,000. We stand ready to back those efforts, which must not only be quantitative, but which must also strengthen the administrative and training capacities, as well as the integrity and the image of the police. The State’s budget must reflect that priority. Aid for rebuilding must continue. The eradication of cholera deserves an appropriate response. France stands ready to uphold its financial commitments made by the President of the Republic, which amount to €326 million. We welcome the new framework for aid coordination that was announced by Prime Minister Lamothe last week in New York. Haiti cannot depend on international solidarity alone for its development, which is why we support President Martelly’s efforts to make Haiti more attractive to foreign investors. The situation is changing and it is only natural that the United Nations presence on the ground does the same. We stand ready to extend MINUSTAH’s mandate. We must continue the drawdown of troop levels, because the levels present today are no longer in line with the needs of the country two and a half years after the earthquake. The priority, more than ever, should be national ownership through the strengthening of the rule of law and the principal tools, such as the Haitian National Police and the judiciary. We must also provide the Mission with a credible time frame. We are not abandoning Haiti, but we must be clear to Haitians with regard to what is achievable in a reasonable period. We therefore support the current discussions between the Mission and the Secretariat on a five-year consolidation plan. I would like to end by commending the work of the police, troops and civilians of MINUSTAH, who have been contributing to the maintenance of stability in Haiti for eight years. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his work at the Head of the Mission and his vision of what must be achieved in Haiti.

I would like to welcome you, Mr. President, to the Council and to congratulate Guatemala on presiding over the Council for the month of October. I would also like to wish our colleague, Mr. Rosenthal, and his team every success and to assure them of our support. (spoke in French) I would like thank Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for his introduction of the excellent report (S/2012/678), which gives us a clear idea of the situation in Haiti and the progress that has been made but, above all, of the enormous scope of the work still to be done. We also welcome the presence of our colleague Ambassador Jean Cazeau. We of course align ourselves with the statement to be made later by the observer of the European Union. Today, with significant support from the international community in general and the United Nations in particular, Haitians have embarked upon the long and difficult process of rebuilding their country, a process that has a wider and more coherent goal that goes beyond repairing the terrible earthquake’s material damage and aiding its victims, namely, to give the country stable and democratic institutions founded on the rule of law, ensure respect for human rights and guarantee security for the people, as well as economic and social development and prosperity for the country. I will not dwell on the close interdependence of those three elements, but it is clear that, without security and good governance, founded on a solid democratic base, and without stable, functioning institutions, there can be no improvement in economic conditions or reconstruction. Similarly, without an economic and employment recovery it will be extremely difficult to strengthen security in the country. I would like to briefly discuss two of those issues. First, concerning the area of politics and the rule of law, there is no doubt that progress has been made. The country has a new Government that has the support of the people. It also appears that the instability that characterized Haitian political life for several months has been overcome. The new political situation translates into growing demands on the Haitian authorities to make progress with essential democratic reforms. In that context, the entry into force of various constitutional amendments, the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the creation of the Permanent Electoral Council — even if the latter is still incomplete — are all significant examples of progress. We encourage the Haitian authorities to continue in that direction: consolidating democratic institutions and practices, political transparency and credibility of the rule of law and the administration of justice — above all, ensuring, when Haitians are ultimately summoned to the polls, the fairness, transparency and credibility of those elections, and thus avoiding betrayal of the Haitian people’s legitimate aspirations and damaging the confidence of the international community. The humanitarian situation and the protection of human rights are also matters for serious concern. The marginalization of especially vulnerable groups, the still large numbers of displaced persons and incidents of gender violence are a major worry and require an effective response. My second point is about security and the role of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). While we are pleased with the progress made in improving the capacity of the Haitian National Police, we are compelled to conclude that they have a long way to go before they will be able to assume full responsibility for providing security in the country, fighting the criminal activity that is, sadly, growing, and protecting their borders. As a result, for the time being, MINUSTAH’s presence is essential. In that regard, we support the Secretary-General’s proposal for a renewal of the Mission’s mandate for a new term of 12 months and for its reconfiguration and gradual drawdown. That drawdown must of necessity go hand in hand with the parallel strengthening of the capacity of the national police, particularly aimed at enabling it to gradually take on the responsibilities currently assigned to MINUSTAH. We also believe that, in terms of humanitarian and financial security, priority must be given to strengthening the National police and not to other structures that are draining limited resources and could also become new sources of instability for Haiti. We continue to fully support the Haitian people on its difficult road to reconstruction, democracy and development. We are convinced that they can overcome the current challenges with the solidarity and active support of the international community. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere recognition of the extraordinary work under what are often difficult conditions accomplished by the men and women of MINUSTAH over the last eight years.

I would like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala for presiding over today’s meeting. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Fernández Amunátegui, for his briefing. Haiti has made some progress in the areas of stability and development recently. The swearing-in of a new Government, the publication of constitutional amendments and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary are positive achievements by the Haitian Government in its efforts to strengthen its democratic and rule-of-law institutions, and China welcomes them. At the same time, we also note that Haiti faces colossal challenges in its political, economic and humanitarian situations. It has a long way to go in its process of rebuilding and reestablishing peace, and it needs the continuing support and advice of the international community. I would like to emphasize three points. First, ensuring political stability is an important prerequisite for maintaining Haiti’s security and development. China welcomes the compromise reached through political consultation by the relevant parties, and hopes that the establishment of the new Government in Haiti will help facilitate the democratic process and political reconciliation there. We hope that all the relevant parties will take the opportunity to unite in order to enhance mutual trust and consolidate hard-won achievements. Secondly, the chief issue that must be urgently addressed is the speeding-up of the economic recovery and reconstruction. Haiti’s slow progress in those areas has meant that many refugees from the earthquake are still surviving on assistance. The country faces major difficulties in the areas of reconstruction, attracting investment, creating jobs and promoting sustainable development. The international community must devote serious attention to those problems. The Haitian Government should redouble its efforts to deal with unemployment and poverty, strengthen institution-building and improve its capacity to govern. We also hope that the international community will honour its pledges to Haiti, increase the effectiveness of its aid and provide constructive support for Haiti’s rebuilding and development. Thirdly, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) plays an indispensable role there. China commends the Special Representative, Mr. Fernández Amunátegui, and MINUSTAH as a whole for its efforts and contribution to maintaining peace and stability in Haiti. We welcome the Secretary- General’s proposal for MINUSTAH’s consolidation plan and the extension of its mandate for one year. We hope that MINUSTAH will continue to implement the Council’s mandate, help Haiti maintain peace and stability, facilitate its political process and strengthen capacity-building for its rule-of-law and Government institutions.

I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on Guatemala’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. My delegation wishes your delegation every success in carrying out its functions. I would next like to thank Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, not only for the briefing on the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2012/678), but also for the praiseworthy work that the Mission has accomplished in Haiti. My delegation will address the issue before us from three angles — the political, security and humanitarian. Last March, during the consideration of the previous report on the sociopolitical situation in Haiti (S/2012/128), my country expressed its concern with regard to the current political, security and humanitarian problems in the country. Today, six months later, the report presented to us allows us to assess the progress made by policymakers and the Haitian people in continuing the process of stabilization in their country and in establishing the rule of law. Following the resignation of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Garry Conille, Haiti once again was dragged into a political crisis that delayed political and economic reforms that the country was to undertake. In May, therefore, Togo gladly welcomed the confirmation by the Parliament of the appointment of Prime Minister Laurent Salvador Lamothe and his statement of general policy, which was an important message regarding the collective political commitment of policymakers in Haiti to continue necessary reforms in order to re-establish the rule of law and create and solidify public institutions, as well as improve the well-being of people. That message was followed by the publication of a revised version of constitutional amendments, which had been ready for adoption since June 2011. My country welcomes the publication of those amendments, which allow for, inter alia, the creation of a Permanent Electoral Council and a Constitutional Council, a 30 per cent quota of women in the Government and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary to strengthen the independence of that branch of Government. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that the establishment of the first Permanent Electoral Council in the country, responsible for the organization of elections, is still taking time owing to controversies surrounding the moral fibre of its members and its ability to conduct credible elections that are acceptable to everyone. That is why my country calls upon all Haitian political actors to continue along the path of consensus, which has allowed for the significant progress just noted, in order to ensure that legislative, local and partial elections, set for the end of the year, will take place in proper conditions. Those elections were supposed to happen in November 2011 and, among other things, will allow for a real assessment of the progress of democracy in Haiti that has been made to date. The security sector has always been one of the largest challenges in Haiti. While the situation has improved since the Haitian National Police and MINUSTAH launched operations that allowed for the disbanding of many criminal gangs, rates of homicide, kidnapping and other violent crimes continue to be high in the country. That situation has an adverse impact on the well-being of people, economic activities and the completion of donor projects. In that regard, Togo would call upon the Haitian authorities to continue to bolster the operational capacity and modernization of the Haitian National Police and fight criminal gangs, which are the main source of insecurity in the country. We commend the courageous decision made last June by the Haitian authorities to put a stop to the illegal activities of members of the former armed forces. However, managing crime and violence cannot be undertaken outside the bounds of the rule of law. It is therefore important to strengthen the rule of law by modernizing the legal and institutional framework linked to the security sector, expanding the police forces and the judiciary in the country as a whole, and making the protection of human rights a cardinal principle. My country continues to be concerned by the human rights violations noted in the report, in particular of the rights of children who are victims of rape, abduction, trafficking and homicide. The Government must also take a firm stance against cases of excessively long preventive detention, inter alia, as well as prison living conditions. One of the priorities announced by the Haitian Government is the recovery and reconstruction of the country. In that respect, Togo is pleased with achievements made in the last quarter in cleaning up the wreckage from the 2010 earthquake and in implementing return and relocation programmes, which have led to the closing of more than 22 camps and the rehousing of 5,000 families. Nevertheless, we are concerned about the living conditions in the camps, where a high number of displaced persons live. Those conditions continue to worsen with the progressive withdrawal of humanitarian institutions due, inter alia, to the lack of funding. A full withdrawal of those organizations before a definitive solution is found for that humanitarian issue could create more health problems, such as those experienced by the country in the recent past. My country would therefore call upon the international community to help the Haitian authorities to resolve that issue by continuing its aid. It is crucial for the Government and the people of Haiti themselves to tackle the challenges they are faced with. We are pleased to note the progress Haiti has made towards stabilization and development by bolstering its political institutions and the entities that guarantee the rule of law. We welcome those major advances, which are clearly noted in the report of the Secretary-General. Nevertheless, in spite of those steps forward, Haiti continues to face significant challenges in its efforts to improve governance, stimulate growth, reduce poverty, manage crime and violence and address ever-growing prices of products for basic survival. All those matters are closely interlinked. It is clear that the current gaps in governance and the inability of the State to provide goods and services slow down economic development and impede poverty reduction, while poverty itself fuels crime. In that context, interventions must be made on many fronts in parallel. In addition, it is clear that, to tackle the those challenges, Haiti needs sustainable international aid, and the people and Government of the country will have to do their utmost to tackle them. My delegation would like to call upon the Government to unremittingly continue what it has undertaken along those lines. Finally, given the many steps forward that have been taken, Togo understands and supports the plan to restructure and reorganize MINUSTAH’s activities and its gradual withdrawal from the country.

First of all, I wish to welcome you, Mr. President, and to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council today. That is of special significance, as you yourself said, Sir, because it is the first time that Guatemala is presiding over the Council. To you, Sir, and to Ambassador Rosenthal and to your entire delegation, we express our warmest and most affectionate greetings. I wish to thank Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for presenting the report of the Secretary-General, which includes many positive points and which also draws our attention, very objectively, to the situation (S/2012/678). The work of Mr. Fernández Amunátegui has been extraordinary. Those who have been able to visit Haiti in his company and to follow his guidance know just how difficult his task is and how much dedication and energy he has devoted to it. He has our full gratitude and support. When we evaluate the progress made in Haiti, in order to make recommendations for promoting the well-being, development and strengthening of its institutions, there is a series of important elements we must consider. First, we must say that we are pleased with the stabilization process experienced in Haiti since the coming to power of President Martelly. That transformation, as seen in the report, has had specific effects. It was finally possible to confirm the Prime Minister in the Parliament, approve laws on the budget and on banking controls, reduce some types of crime, such as kidnapping and political violence, reduce the number of displacements, publish constitutional amendments, establish the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and comply with an important quota of 30 per cent women’s representation in the Government. That generates confidence, and it shows that recovery is under way in Haiti. We also wish to highlight the important role of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in maintaining an environment of security and stability. That has been an important element in confronting the political, economic and social challenges in the best way. Matters such as the increase in murders, the carrying of firearms by unauthorized persons and the proliferation of criminal gangs require special attention in all sectors of the national police, with the support of MINUSTAH. We believe that the strengthening of Haiti still calls for the presence of MINUSTAH, especially the essential component of its mandate, which is to provide conditions for security, well-being and the strengthening of institutions. That is all the more obvious when we note the conclusion of the Secretary- General in his report, when he states: “Although the performance of the national police has continued to improve, the institution is not yet in a position to assume full responsibility for the provision of internal security throughout the country” (S/2012/678, para. 12). My delegation will support a resolution responding to those challenges and to the mandates that drive the activities of MINUSTAH, in which human security is perceived in comprehensive terms of promoting development, respect for human rights, peaceful coexistence and protection for individuals and their environment. That mandate must be interpreted in connection with the ongoing dialogue that should exist among the Government, civil society and international actors. It is necessary to expand MINUSTAH’s work to evaluate and strengthen the Haitian police. The plan for 2012-2016 developed by the National Police and MINUSTAH is an important tool to empower and increase the number of police, which today consists of 10,106 officers, sub-officers and agents. With regard to engineering, MINUSTAH is conducting praiseworthy risk-management activities including building police stations, road repair, removing earthquake rubble and clearing rivers and canals of prefabricated structures. When it comes to criteria for reducing the military and police components proposed by the Secretary-General, we believe that the engineering unit should maintain a presence that matches the challenges in that area, in accordance with its capabilities. We call on MINUSTAH to assign the experts in that component as effectively as possible in a manner consistent with their abilities and areas of knowledge. The presence of Colombian police in the field has been extended, as discussed at a working meeting on integral security for cooperation between Colombia and Haiti held in August 2012. A delegation of the Haitian National Police visited Colombia in order to implement the plan on cooperation in comprehensive security. The idea was to validate the proposal with the police authorities of Haiti, as well as the on-site presentation of the operative, administrative and human resources abilities of the Colombian police to train the beneficiaries of the programme. The goal is to train 221 police officers between now and 2014, as well as 50 female police officers, in order to strengthen strategic development and planning, and the environmental, anti-narcotics and anti-kidnapping police. We consider that one of the fundamental aspects of the future of Haiti is the development of the agricultural sector, which, we believe, should be a priority. It is necessary to approve certain competitive factors, which this sector of national productivity offers in the context of a plan for rural and agricultural development. It will include the promotion of products of the earth such as coffee, cocoa, fruit, sugar cane and others. That could create an important source of exports. I cannot fail to say that in accordance with our coffee business in Colombia and in association with the Inter-American Development Bank, we are promoting a project to improve coffee production in Haiti. The idea is to establish a sustainable, inclusive coffee chain of value, which will increase revenues for small producers, strengthen cooperative effort and increase exports of quality coffee. That is a project to which I devote particular attention. Finally, it is important to mention projects for the recovery of communes and barrios and dwellings within an urbanization plan in Haiti, based on the experiences of the city of Medellín in Colombia and through strengthening the National Institute for Professional Training through technical exchanges with the National Training Service of Colombia, or SENA. Those entities have broad success in those sectors. The political forces in Haiti must build on the progress achieved in order to open the path to take responsibility for their own destiny. No contribution makes any sense without such political will. Nobody except Haitians themselves can create that will. The efficient coordination of international cooperation continues to be a priority. Thus the adoption of an integrated strategic framework for help for 2013-2016, a strategic development plan of the Haitian Government, is a step in the right direction. Responding to the cholera threat is a priority. The statistics in the Secretary-General’s report call for that. The figure of 580,947 people infected between October 2010 and 15 July 2012 is not just worrisome. What is much worse is that at least 7,440 people have died because of this disease. A greater budget must be invested in preventing cholera and in water treatment, improving vigilance for and management of this serious problem, and supporting the most vulnerable communities. International evidence shows that poverty and unemployment are causes of evils such as cholera, but so are institutional weaknesses that lead to malnutrition, illiteracy and corruption. All those scourges must be fought in a consistent fashion by developing the policies that Haitians will adopt, giving to the creation of local capacities and to institutional consolidation the primary place they should have. Another fundamental issue is that of the postponed elections. We call on all local stakeholders to unite their efforts so that through constructive dialogue they can agree on prompt, transparent elections so that the 10 senators whose terms ended last 8 May can be replaced. Financial and administrative support in this sector is vital for strengthening the democratic process. We are convinced that the United Nations has an institutional duty to Haiti, and the international community must support its management. MINUSTAH, as the appropriate mechanism for coordination and management, must maintain its presence in the field. That is why we commit ourselves to supporting the extension of itsr mandate to October 2013.

Mr. President, South Africa congratulates the delegation of Guatemala on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the very first time. We are particularly pleased to see you, Mr. Caballeros, presiding over today’s meeting. We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his briefing and report on the activities of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) during the last six months (S/2012/678). Haiti continues to make significant progress since its emergence from conflict and the devastating earthquake of January 2010. It is encouraging to note that during the current reporting period a number of significant political milestones were achieved. Those developments bode well for the strengthening of governance and the rule of law institutions. It is particularly impressive that with seven of the 22 cabinet positions filled by women, Haiti is setting an excellent example, and in very practical terms, of giving effect to resolution 1325 (2000) on the role of women in peace and security. Those achievements are significant in the context of the many challenges that Haiti continues to face. It is important that we support Haiti in consolidating the gains made, especially in strengthening its institutions. My delegation remains concerned over the challenges preventing the formation of the Permanent Electoral Council, especially as this problem has delayed the long- awaited legislative, municipal and local elections. It is therefore urgent that the stakeholders engage in genuine dialogue in an effort to address the current challenges in completing the appoinments to the Council and that the elections be held as soon as possible. We welcome the relatively stable security situation that has prevailed in Haiti during the reporting period. We note with satisfaction that the Haitian authorities, supported by MINUSTAH through its Operation Sunrise, have brought to an end the illicit activities of former members of the Haitian armed forces and young recruits, who had illegally occupied a number of sites throughout the country. The strengthening and capacity-building of the Haitian National Police is critical in ensuring stability in Haiti and in laying a firm basis for the drawdown and larger withdrawal of MINUSTAH. My delegation therefore supports the efforts of MINUSTAH and the Government to increase the recruitment and training of police and to strengthen the capacities of rule of law institutions. The Government of Haiti, like those of many countries around the world, faces the challenge of meeting the socioeconomic demands of its people. Those demands place tremendous pressure on the Government, which has to deal with the consequences of frustration, which manifests itself in social unrest. High levels of unemployment, the lack of service delivery and the difficult socioeconomic conditions will remain a threat to the stability of the State, as witnessed in recent incidents. The link between security and development as two important pillars for ensuring the long-term stability of the country is clearly prevalent in Haiti. The Security Council has previously recalled the contribution that peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions have made to early peacebuilding, including through the creation of conducive environments that enable economic recovery and the provision of basic services. We therefore fully support the activities of MINUSTAH, and in particular its engineering component, in assisting the Government in constructing schools and hospitals and the installation of prefabricated units for the judiciary and other State institutions. Those aspects of MINUSTAH’s work are conducive to the establishment of conditions for long- term reconstruction and recovery and support the notion of peacekeepers as early peacebuilders. We recognize that Haiti continues to face major humanitarian challenges. The number of people who have died or who have been infected by cholera this year is alarming. We urge the Government of Haiti to strengthen its health capacity and its capability to effectively respond to the cholera and tuberculosis epidemics. It is also incumbent upon the international community to provide all the necessary assistance required to respond to the cholera challenge. We welcome the development by MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team of the 2013- 2016 strategic framework aligning its priorities with the Government’s strategic development plan. While international support for Haiti remains crucial, we emphasize the need for national ownership and leadership. We note with concern, however, that less than 10 per cent of aid disbursed by the international community has been disbursed through the Government. We must avoid inadvertently creating parallel structures that could undermine the Government of Haiti. National ownership is essential to ensuring that the needs of the population are effectively addressed. South Africa therefore welcomes the announcement by the Government of the new aid coordination mechanism, which is aimed at aligning international assistance with national priorities. South Africa pledges its support for the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate and supports the proposal by the Secretary-General regarding the drawdown of MINUSTAH’s military and police capabilities. Such a drawdown should be gradual and conducted in consultation with the Haitian authorities, taking into account their needs and institutional capacity. We further urge MINUSTAH to calibrate the withdrawal of its engineering component with the needs on the ground. In conclusion, Haiti has made significant strides towards peace and stability, and it is a testament to this progress that it has been entrusted by its region to take over the chair of the Caribbean Community. Challenges do remain, and it is imperative that Haitians, with the sustained support of the international community, work with MINUSTAH to overcome those obstacles.

It is an honour to have you lead this meeting, Mr. President; many congratulations to you and to Guatemala on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the first time. Many thanks to the German delegation for everything it did during its presidency of the Council last month. Many thanks, too, to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his briefing and for everything that he and everyone in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has been doing to implement the mandate we have given them in support of Haiti. Seven months ago, when the Council debated MINUSTAH following our visit to Haiti (see S/PV.6732), inertia in the political system was blighting decision-making on all the issues central to the nation’s development. Seven months on, several political milestones have been achieved, including the ratification of the Prime Minister and the installation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. Haiti now has the opportunity to build on that progress. Following our visit, we called for the Mission to begin planning, so that, when conditions on the ground allowed, it could begin drawdown. Now we see signs that those conditions are improving. For example, MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police have brought to a peaceful conclusion a potentially inflammatory demonstration by former members of the Haitian army. There has been a handover of security from MINUSTAH to the Haitian National Police in camps for internally displaced persons. And in four of ten regions, responsibility for security now rests with MINUSTAH’s police units rather than with its troops. It is important that we note those successes. We support the Secretary-General’s proposals to reduce the number of uniformed personnel deployed with the Mission, but it is in no one’s interest that MINUSTAH leave before the security it has established can be maintained by the Haitian authorities. Now more than ever, it is critical that the Mission undertake the planning needed for it to draw down without jeopardizing its hard-won security gains. MINUSTAH’s activities must be carefully prioritized. Building the capacity of the Haitian National Police — both operational and institutional — should be MINUSTAH’s highest priority. I underline that we believe that that should not be a top but the top priority for MINUSTAH. The Haitian National Police must also meet appropriate human rights standards, if it is to win the confidence of the Haitian people. Effective oversight, transparency and zero tolerance for corruption will all be important. Officers should expect the support of all political parties and a reasonable salary that is paid on time. Capacity-building in the justice sector, both regionally and at the institutional level, is also important to complement that activity. Neither of those tasks is solely for MINUSTAH. Clarity is needed among all the actors involved as to what capacity the Haitian National Police and the justice system more broadly needs to build, and what the benchmarks and timetable will be for achieving those goals. As long as political uncertainty remains the most likely trigger of instability, activity to support political stability must continue to be a priority. MINUSTAH should support the elections planned for the end of the year. The appointment of a Permanent Electoral Council is a crucial step and needs to be achieved quickly, if the partial Senate and local elections are to be held on schedule. It is vital that the Electoral Council be able to act independently and that it have the funding to do so. However, that necessary prioritization inevitably means cutting back on some activities. The report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti of the Economic and Social Council focuses on the importance now of strong and coherent development support and the mobilizing of Haitian stakeholders, as well as the phased transfer of tasks from MINUSTAH to other actors. We agree: MINUSTAH should be handing over tasks where other actors, including the United Nations country team, have a comparative advantage in conducting them. Where possible, tasks should be handed over to national actors. Where that is not yet possible, all elements of the United Nations system need to work together to build national capacity. MINUSTAH should be adopting the most efficient configuration. It should be drawing on lessons from other missions. Decisions in that context should take into account the differences between geographic areas and the varying progress among sectors. The United Kingdom believes that it is essential that peacekeepers conform to the highest standards of conduct at all times. We firmly support the Secretary- General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and we urge a rigorous and transparent approach to all allegations in that area. In conclusion, MINUSTAH has achieved some encouraging results over the past 12 months. Looking forward, efforts now need to focus on utilizing the more favourable environment in which it is operating to deliver its core tasks. It must engage other actors to share the burden where appropriate. MINUSTAH should be stopping activity which others are better able to conduct.

We would like to join the other delegations that have congratulated you, Sir, and the Guatemalan delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the first time, and to wish you every success in your forthcoming tasks. We are grateful to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Fernández Amunátegui, for his briefing on the situation in Haiti. We read with interest the recent report (S/2012/678) on the activities of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and agree with the conclusions contained therein. Unfortunately, despite the progress made on the political front, the situation in Haiti continues to be most difficult. The political process remains fragile. The Permanent Electoral Council does not have wide support, and the legitimacy of the amendments made to the Constitution by the President is not recognized by all. That is the backdrop against which complex elections will take place in the Parliament and in local Government bodies. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, and there is some social unrest owing to social and economic instability, increased criminal activity and the inability of the national police to take on responsibility for providing internal security. The humanitarian situation remains difficult. MINUSTAH without a doubt plays an important stabilizing role, and, along those lines, we believe that the issue of its drawdown must be taken up particularly carefully, taking into due account the possible consequences. We support the proposal of the Secretary-General that the reconfiguration of the Mission should be carried out on the basis of objectives agreed upon with the Government of Haiti, objectives that are clear and achievable over the next four or five years. Moreover, we believe that the Mission should be gradually relieved of the duties that were entrusted to it after the earthquake, which include a wide variety of social, economic and humanitarian activities. In that connection, United Nations funds and programmes should participate actively in rebuilding the country, along with the United Nations peacebuilding machinery and donor support. The Haitian Government must lay a leading role in resolving critical tasks in the country, first and foremost on the economic and humanitarian fronts. The Government bears particular responsibility for the effective utilization of international aid and must participate actively in its coordination. One of most significant tasks facing the Government at this stage is the bolstering of police capacity. If the rule of law is not strengthened and national forces cannot ensure security, it will be difficult to speak of an authentic stabilization of the situation in Haiti. In that connection, we note the contribution made by MINUSTAH in attaining those ends. The international aid provided to Haiti under the auspices of the United Nations has been an unprecedented demonstration of solidarity in its scale and scope. Without a doubt, efforts to provide comprehensive aid, including the strengthening of State institutions, should be continued so as to ensure that the Haitian people can independently resolve issues related to security, reconstruction and sustainable development.

I should like to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Delegations with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate the texts in writing and to deliver a condensed version when speaking in the Chamber. I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

My delegation congratulates you, Sir, on your country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October and wishes you every success. We would like also to express our gratitude for the presentation of the report (S/2012/678) of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We would also like to thank all the members of the Council and the Secretariat for their contributions. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and the Special Envoy, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui and Mr. William J. Clinton, respectively, for their dedication, and the troop-contributing countries for their continued support. Along those lines, we would also like to commend the openness and expertise demonstrated by the Assistant Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Edmond Mulet. The report presented to the members of the Council focuses on salient aspects of the Government’s activities that are priorities for it, given that it views the economic and social development process as indispensable to the stabilization of the country. Indeed, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, presented, in the framework of his 5 “E’s” formula, the pillars of his five-year plan: environment, energy, education, the rule of law and employment. As is made clear in report, the past six months have been characterized by noteworthy political, legal and socio-economic achievements that have helped to stabilize the country. In May, the Parliament approved the appointment of Mr. Laurent Salvador Lamothe as Prime Minister. During that same period, the Government was able to publish corrected constitutional amendments, finalize arrangements for the Superior Court, establish the Superior Council of the Judiciary and put forward the names of six of the nine persons who will make up the Permanent Electoral Council. It should be noted that the Superior Council of the Judiciary was created under laws adopted in 2007 that are in keeping with the spirit and the letter of the Constitution with respect to the independence of the judiciary. The Superior Council, as set out in the Haitian Constitution, must be composed of nine members from the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, in equal numbers. However, given the very nature of democracy and the absence of 10 senators whose terms concluded on 12 May, the Parliament has not yet appointed its three representatives. To resolve the situation, the Government, the Parliament and other relevant actors have engaged in an inter-Haitian dialogue aimed at achieving consensus. The initial actions taken by the Superior Council will include the holding of partial legislative elections so as to fill the Senate seats that have been vacant since 8 May. Preparations are moving ahead to ensure the success and the credibility of the forthcoming elections. The Government is grateful to the Secretary-General for having promised in his report the support of the United Nations for the electoral process. The nomination on 15 August 2012 of Mr. Godson Orelus as Director General ad interim of the Haitian National Police (HNP), replacing Mario Andrésol, whose mandate had ended, is clear evidence of the Government’s intention to ensure that the national police does not experience an institutional vacuum. The selection of Mr. Orelus, the former Director of the judicial police, was ratified by the Senate of the Republic. The cholera epidemic remains a primary concern of the people and the Republic of Haiti. As noted by the Secretary-General, the number of cholera deaths is estimated by the Minister of Public Health and Population, at more than 7,440. The number of people affected by the epidemic is also worrisome. From the time the epidemic began, in October 2010, through July 2012, 580,947 cases were reported. During the seven-month period from January 2012 to August 2012, 35,000 additional cases were reported. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Government, with the assistance of United Nations agencies working in Haiti and many friendly countries, has taken measures that include the establishment of 16 treatment centres, 149 treatment units and 1,270 oral rehydration points. The Government has also ensured the distribution of chlorinated products to more than 2.2 million people. In October, the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic will hold a meeting at the United Nations, jointly with the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization, on the issue of cholera. In spite of the progress made thanks to the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations country team in support of the Government, much remains to be done at the humanitarian level to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable segments of the population. For example, following the earthquake of 2010, more than 1.5 million people were living in tents; today, that number totals less than 400,000. However, while that number has decreased by two thirds, many people, including children, women, pregnant women, newborn infants and elderly persons, are still living in tents. The Government is also working tirelessly to create employment throughout the country, in particular through measures aimed at attracting foreign direct investment and reinvigorating the tourism sector. The Government is proud to announce the upcoming inauguration of the Caracol industrial park, which should create 60,000 jobs, and of the international airport in Cap-Haïtien. The Government thanks the Secretary-General for having recognized the justified nature of its efforts to accelerate the development process in Haiti. It is grateful to him for having understood and clearly stated that, with respect to the incident wherein the Government expelled former members of the military, and persons claiming to be such members, from the sites that they were illegally occupying, the Government was combating a threat to public order. The Haitian authorities are encouraged by the mention in the report of the National Police’s capacity for intervention. On another aspect, we would underscore that, more and more each day, the Government is seeking to impose respect for the country’s laws. It does not claim to have achieved that to a satisfactory level yet, but it can commend itself on the fact that the situation is improving rather than sliding backwards. That is in part due to Government measures to strengthen public institutions and to promote a culture of the rule of law. The Government is listening to the people and is determined not to stop half way and to spare no effort in achieving consensus with all the country’s stakeholders so as to support the stabilization and development process. While a number of society’s demands have still not been met, it is not because of the lack of political will but because the means are cruelly lacking. The Government is nevertheless striving to respond progressively to socioeconomic demands, including those of former soldiers rightly calling for severance pay, parents claiming a better life for their children and people living in tents demanding safe and secure housing. Acknowledging that “Haiti is once again setting its sights on longer-term stabilization and development goals and has made important strides in strengthening its political and rule of law institutions” (S/2012/678, para. 47), the Secretary-General’s report is very encouraging. It bolsters my Government’s resolve to spare no effort to achieve the country’s reconstruction and sustainable development goals. The Government welcomes the consolidation plan for MINUSTAH, by which the military component of the United Nations structure gradually gives way to the police component until the Haitian National Police can replace it and can itself assume full responsibility for security in the country. As the report shows, that plan is already being implemented in four of the country’s departments. The Government welcomes with satisfaction the Secretary-General’s recommendation to the Security Council to reduce the military and police components of MUNISTAH from 7,340 to 6,270 troops and from 3,241 to 2,601 personnel, respectively, between now and June 2013. That measure also seeks to focus the police component more on the training of National Police officers than on operational activities and recognizes that the National Police have attained a certain maturity in action and intervention. Finally, the Haitian people and Government would like to thank the Secretary-General for recognizing the progress made to date in expressing his confidence in the will and the ability of Haitian leaders to rebuild the Haitian nation and to ensure progress and sustainable socioeconomic development. That is possible only with the assistance of Haiti’s partners, in the North and the South, and of international, regional and subregional bodies.

I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

I would like to congratulate Guatemala on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the first time, which is, as has been said, very auspicious. I also thank Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his presentation and to reiterate my Government’s appreciation of his leadership and consistent support of political dialogue and the strengthening of democracy in Haiti. (spoke in English) The very fact that we can now consider the situation in Haiti with a more strategic and longer-term perspective testifies to the progress so far achieved. Two years ago, Haiti was grappling with the aftermath of a devastating tragedy. Although the challenge of alleviating the plight of the 400,000 people still living in tents remains, we must not forget that there were 1.5 million people on the streets just after the earthquake. That shows that real progress has been made. The removal of debris has progressed. Haiti and its international partners showed preparedness when tropical storm Isaac hit and lives were spared. For the first time, a democratically elected Government from the opposition succeeded another democratically elected Government. The performance of the Haitian National Police has improved. Some key rule of law institutions have been established. We know, however, that the consolidation of such security and stability gains remains a challenge. Addressing that will require a sustained and strong commitment by Haitians themselves and our continued support. It will also demand that Haitian political actors seize all opportunities for dialogue and understanding. Haiti is progressively consolidating a democratic foundation for its society after so many hardships, struggles and uncertainties. The active leadership of the Government and the inclusive participation of Haitian institutions are required. We encourage the earliest establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council as a result of a timely and negotiated solution that garners wide political support. The upcoming partial legislative, local and municipal elections will constitute an important landmark. Credible and timely elections will send a powerful signal to the international community, potential investors and, above all, the Haitian population. We commend Haitian leaders for taking the reforms forward and setting up key rule of law institutions. The improved conditions on the ground have allowed for adjustments in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). A lighter military presence should go hand in hand with the assumption of ever greater responsibilities by national institutions, especially the Haitian National Police. Equally important, the consolidation plan for MINUSTAH must be mindful of the Government’s priorities and must be truly owned by Haitians themselves. In addition, it must be coupled with a truly integrated strategy of the whole United Nations family in support of socioeconomic development and the strengthening of the Haitian State. Such an integrated strategy is essential for the sustainability of the considerable efforts made by Haitians in the past and their continuation in the years ahead, with the strong support of the international community. As Haitian institutions consolidate further, it is essential that the Mission help the process by providing the indispensable support for them to adequately discharge their responsibilities. As we devise a strategy for the gradual, carefully planned and conditions- based military drawdown of MINUSTAH, we must ensure that the Mission is provided with the adequate tools, including quick-impact and community violence reduction projects and engineering resources, in order to continue to help secure a stable environment with concrete benefits for the population. In line with the Mission’s consolidation plan, Brazil is taking steps, in close coordination with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the other troop-contributing countries, towards the partial withdrawal of one of our two battalions that were deployed as part of the post-earthquake surge. We see that as a measure of success of the efforts made by Haiti and the international community. We also see it as an expression of our shared confidence in the continued strengthening of the Haitian National Police. We will undertake the drawdown in constant dialogue with the Secretariat. Full stability in Haiti requires major economic transformations. Job creation and income generation are still greatly needed. The stabilization gains facilitated by MINUSTAH will not be sustainable in the absence of improvements in the situation of the poorer and most vulnerable people. They constitute the large majority of the Haitian population. Brazil has consistently underscored the importance of a strong and well-coordinated strategy, under the effective lead of the Haitian Government, so as to generate economic growth and reduce poverty. We welcome President Martelly’s designation of five restructuring priorities for the country up to 2016, and his push for universal basic education in Haiti. We warmly welcome the development of a new aid coordination structure and, above all, the enhanced role of the Government in such a mechanism. Brazil continues to rally behind the construction of the Artibonite 4C hydroelectric plant. The Brazilian army engineer corps has donated the construction project to the Haitian Government. Its completion will generate jobs and provide cheaper and cleaner energy, and it will open avenues for further investment and cooperation. In parallel, Brazil is proud to contribute to Haiti’s health-care system through the construction of four health-care units in Haiti in partnership with Cuba. Brazil’s solidarity towards our fellow Haitians is long-standing, deep-rooted and unwavering. We will continue to stand by Haiti as it redoubles its efforts towards steady political stability, stronger institutions and more effective development partnerships. We see encouraging developments in all those areas. The determination and strength of the Haitian people are what make our optimism well founded.

I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

Allow me to begin by welcoming the presence of Mr. Harold Caballeros, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, among us this morning. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guatemala, Peru, the United States of America and my country, Uruguay. I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Guatemala, for organizing this debate to discuss the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2012/678) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Group of Friends welcomes the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, and thanks him for his comprehensive briefing and for his efforts as the highest representative of the United Nations in Haiti. The Group of Friends recognizes the important political and institutional achievements in Haiti since the previous report (S/2012/128), including the ratification by the Parliament of a new Prime Minister, the installation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the publication of the constitutional amendments, which includes, among other provisions, the establishment of a Permanent Electoral Council, of a Constitutional Council and a quota of 30 per cent representation by women in Government. The effective establishment of the country’s Permanent Electoral Council will constitute another major milestone in the process of consolidating democracy in Haiti, which is necessary for the timely, transparent, fair and credible holding of the overdue partial legislative, municipal and local elections. Haitian democracy will be strengthened by that achievement. We call on all the relevant political stakeholders in Haiti to continue to work cooperatively towards the consolidation of democratic institutions and the rule of law and, above all, to meet the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people. The Group of Friends notes that the overall security situation in Haiti remained relatively stable since the previous report. That has allowed MINUSTAH to continue to draw down its post-earthquake surge and to adapt its configuration without undermining the security and stability of Haiti. The Group also takes note of MINUSTAH’s development of a conditions- based consolidation plan, and expresses its interest in closely following the plan’s development and analyzing its eventual recommendations. The Group of Friends welcomes the continued commitment by the Government of Haiti to strengthening the rule of law and to make further progress in reforming the security sector. In that regard, the Group would like to emphasize the critical role that the Haitian National Police (HNP) plays in Haiti’s security and stability, as well as to underscore the importance of completing the ongoing strengthening, professionalization and reform of the Haitian National Police in order for it to assume full responsibility for Haiti’s security. In that regard, the Group expresses its satisfaction with the establishment of the 2012-2016 Haitian National Police Development Plan, presented by MINUSTAH and the HNP. The Group of Friends of Haiti recognizes the critical role of MINUSTAH in ensuring stability and security in Haiti and commends the Mission for continuing to assist the Government of Haiti to ensure a secure and stable environment. The Group of Friends expresses its grave concern regarding the allegations of cases of serious misconduct by some MINUSTAH personnel, which have negatively affected public support for the Mission and may be undermining its work. The Group of Friends expects all United Nations personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct and urges all actors involved to assume their responsibilities in order to prevent such cases, investigate the allegations and hold accountable those responsible. The Group acknowledges with satisfaction the important progress in the reduction of the number of internally displaced persons in Haiti. However, it would like to stress that Haiti continues to face significant humanitarian challenges, particularly with regard to women and children, including the more than 390,000 internally displaced persons who still depend on assistance for their basic survival, the ongoing cholera epidemic and the country’s extreme vulnerability to natural disasters. The Group of Friends notes the continuing work by the Government of Haiti, MINUSTAH and others to protect vulnerable groups, but notes with equal concern the need to improve the response of the criminal justice sector to claims of rape and of serious crimes against children. We therefore urgently call for increased efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and children. Those challenges remind us of the importance of sustaining cooperation between the international community and the Government of Haiti to meet the needs of the Haitian people. In that regard, the Group of Friends acknowledges the efforts of the donor community and calls upon them to fulfil without delay the pledges made. The Group welcomes the establishment of the aid coordination mechanism developed by the Government of Haiti, which succeeds the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. The Group of Friends of Haiti believes that security, development and stability are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing. We therefore stress the need to significantly address unemployment and the delivery of basic social services. At the same time, the Group stresses that there can be no genuine stability or sustainable development in Haiti without strengthening democratic institutions and a credible democratic process. In that context, the Group emphasizes the importance of promoting the rule of law through the strengthening of Haitian institutions and further reaffirms the responsibility of MINUSTAH to support the Haitian State in the areas of good governance, extending State authority and promoting and protecting human rights, in accordance with its mandate. Finally, owing to the significant challenges that Haiti still faces and the critical support that MINUSTAH is providing, the Group of Friends of Haiti stresses the need to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH for one year to enable the Mission to continue to discharge its responsibilities according to the reconfiguration presented by the Secretary-General. In that regard, the Group has just submitted for the Council’s consideration a new draft resolution regarding MINUSTAH’s mandate and capacities. The Group of Friends of Haiti would like to express its support and recognition to the women and men of MINUSTAH for their dedication and tireless efforts to support Haiti’s recovery and stability. We wish the people of Haiti brighter days ahead. The Group of Friends is committed to that cause and will certainly continue its efforts to support their aspirations for improved welfare, working with the Permanent Mission of Haiti and the Haitian authorities to that end.

I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, and the Guatemalan delegation for organizing today’s debate on Haiti. I also congratulate you for presiding over the Council for the first time in your country’s history. (spoke in Spanish) We congratulate all Guatemalans. (spoke in French) We also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mariano Fernánez Amunátegui and our colleague, the Permanent Representative of Haiti, Ambassador Cazeau, for their statements. This debate comes at the end of a period marked by a number of developments in Haiti that we see as clearly positive beginnings. The adoption of constitutional amendments, the creation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the adoption of a new development plan for the Haitian National Police are just a few examples. Those are steps in the right direction by the Government of Haiti. We hope that they will support Haiti’s fledgling institutions while promoting their strengthening and independence, two factors essential to their effectiveness. However, Canada remains concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the holding of senatorial and local elections. By encouraging a legitimate and credible Permanent Electoral Council to organize the elections, the Haitian Government has the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to and demonstrate its respect for democratic principles. (spoke in English) Canada’s partnership with Haiti has lasted decades. Today, that partnership is at the heart of our engagement in the Americas, the purpose of which is to increase economic opportunities, strengthen security and institutions and establish long-term relationships. One of the specific objectives of our engagement is to effectively promote the rule of law, economic opportunity and sustainable development initiatives in Haiti, while at the same time tackling the underlying causes of the country’s continuing insecurity. Since 2006, Canada has provided Haiti with more than $1 billion in support. We have contributed to Haitian development priorities in a variety of areas, such as economic growth, food security and maternal and child health, as a result of Canada’s Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Canada has also provided substantial humanitarian assistance after natural disasters, to alleviate suffering and meet the immediate needs of all Haitians. In fact, individual Canadians generously donated $220 million to relief efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake and our Government matched those donations. In September, a Canadian trade mission to Haiti generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm among the investors who took part in it. We see that as a positive development, because we firmly believe that the private sector has an essential role to play in helping Haiti to continue its reconstruction efforts. Good governance being very important to investors, it is now up to the Haitian Government to continue its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and eliminate corruption, thereby creating the conditions that will enable Haiti’s private sector and international investors to play their key role in Haiti’s economic recovery. (spoke in French) Canada supports the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and looks forward to the upcoming adoption of the draft resolution to renew its mandate. We are pleased with the Secretary- General’s recommendations, presented in his recent report (S/2012/678), to renew the Mission’s mandate and to focus on adapting it so that it reflects the changing security environment in Haiti. The security situation has improved in the past few years, despite a recent increase in criminal activity and the occupation of former army bases by paramilitary groups last spring. We commend the successful intervention of the Haitian National Police, which was able to dislodge those groups with MINUSTAH’s support. I would like to commend MINUSTAH on its efforts to improve the security situation in Haiti, but it is even more vital that Haiti’s security institutions become equipped themselves to play a greater role in defending the freedom and security of Haitians. Canada believes that the Haitian National Police must be the primary security force in Haiti. Along with other international partners, we continue to provide massive investments to strengthen the police against countervailing forces. However, Haitian authorities are the key actors in that effort. We are therefore pleased that the current Government has adopted the new police development plan for the 2012-2016 period. We hope that the Haitian authorities will make all efforts necessary for its implementation, and we will continue to monitor their performance as Canada considers its future investments. In conclusion, steadfast political will is still needed to establish genuine rule of law in Haiti. Beyond some recent progress, Haiti’s leaders must commit to actually delivering reforms that have been promised. Haitian men and women expect a Government in which the public interest is respected, the rule of law prevails, human rights are protected and the economy grows stronger through job creation across the country, and through the prosperity that trade and investment bring. Haiti’s partners in Canada expect no less.

I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

Mr. President, please accept the congratulations of my country, Chile, on Guatemala’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. The Chilean delegation endorses the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti. The delegation also thanks Special Representative of the Secretary- General Mariano Fernández Amunátegui for his briefing, and we commend him on his able leadership of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), even as we thank the men and women who staff the Mission for their work and dedication. Chile reiterates its support for the Mission and for the process of its consolidation. We reiterate once again Chile’s strong and continued commitment to the people of Haiti and their development, a commitment consistently proven since 2004. We agree with the conclusions of the report of the Secretary-General on MINUSTAH (S/2012/678). We agree also that the time is ripe for the Haitian authorities to make progress in rebuilding their country and strengthening their institutions. My delegation believes that full adherence to the rule of law remains essential to Haiti’s security, stability, governability and economic and social progress. We hope that Haitians will be able to meet the challenges in the areas of justice, human rights, prison administration, gender-based violence and the protection of children. During the visit to Haiti in May by the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, my delegation was able to witness on the ground the improved conditions in the country. Nevertheless, the Haitian people continue to face serious challenges that must be tackled by Haitian national institutions, with the support of the international community. The reduction in the number of internally displaced persons certainly represents progress, but we also note the many humanitarian challenges that remain. In that context, we are encouraged by the steps taken by the Haitian authorities, such as implementing the strategic development plan in order to connect local needs with international donors, and developing a new coordination framework, which will improve accountability between donors and beneficiaries of such assistance. My delegation notes and commends the institutional progress made by the Haitian authorities in strengthening the rule of law. In addition to the swearing in of a new Government by the Parliament and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, we note the publication of amendments to Haiti’s Constitution, the institution of the Permanent Electoral Council, which we hope will soon enjoy full membership, and the call for partial parliamentary and municipal elections before the end of 2012. The holding of those elections would be a clear reflection of the required positive interaction between the three branches of Government. That interaction is essential for maintaining political stability and achieving development. Chile is pleased with the progress made in the area of security and values the important role that MINUSTAH has played in stabilizing Haiti. Its work to support the activities of the Haitian National Police is crucial. It is to be expected that, in the medium term, the Haitian National Police will gradually be able to take over all security-related functions in accordance with what was established by the authorities in the development plan for the Haitian National Police for the period 2012-2016. My delegation believes it is essential for the Government of Haiti to strictly conform to that plan and to comply with the process of recruiting and training police officers stipulated for every year in order to have the appropriate number of police officers at the end of the period. For that purpose, we believe it is essential that the international community continue supporting the strengthening of the Haitian National Police. In that sense, the Government of Chile will continue with the bilateral cooperation plans for police training. Chile supports the proposal to strengthen MINUSTAH presented in the report of the Secretary- General and hopes it will take place gradually and on the basis of conditions in the field. My delegation will continue to watch that process. As we have said on previous occasions in the Council, security and development are two complementary concepts, which cannot be dealt with separately. For that reason, we believe that changes to the composition and size of the Mission should be compensated for by strengthening the presence of the development component through United Nations agencies in Haiti. In that regard, we support the implementation of the new integrated strategic framework for the period 2013-2016, as it strengthens the coordination between MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team in Haiti and aligns its priorities on the basis of the strategic plan for the development of Haiti drawn up by the Government. We also recognize MINUSTAH’s contribution to development through the quick-impact projects and the programmes to reduce community violence. For that reason, we believe that maintaining those programmes is essential. Those projects are crucial because they make it possible to increase the confidence of the local population in the Mission, especially in urban areas where institutions are weak and there are socioeconomic problems which can lead to social unrest. We also believe it is important for MINUSTAH to contiue taking measures to fight the cholera epidemic, together with local authorities, and to strengthen its zero-tolerance policy towards cases of sexual abuse and misconduct by some members of its personnel. The Government of Chile believes it is necessary to continue cooperating with the development of institutional capacity in Haiti, under the principle of national ownership. Chile will continue to support that process through multilateral and bilateral channels. I conclude with an expression of my delegation’s support for the extension of MINUSTAH’s mandate, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report. We hope that the Security Council will accept those recommendations.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The acceding country Croatia; the candidate countries Montenegro, Iceland, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, align themselves with this statement. Given that this is the first time that I am taking the floor under the presidency of Guatemala, I would like to first of all congratulate you, Mr. President, and wish you every success over the course of this month. I would also like to thank the German delegation and Ambassador Wittig for the work accomplished under the German presidency of the Security Council last month. I shall take this opportunity to touch upon three priority topics: the political situation, security and MINUSTAH’s role and development aid. We are pleased that since the appointment of a new Prime Minister, Mr. Laurent Salvador Lamothe, in May 2012, and the establishment of a new Government there has been a relative stabilization of the political context in Haiti. We are also pleased that important headway has been made in moving forward democratic reforms, particularly with the entry into force of some amendments to the Constitution of 1987, the establishment of a Superior Council of the Judiciary and the establishment, even if it is still ongoing, of a permanent electoral council. We call upon the Haitian Government to continue that path, in particular during the holding of the next elections. It is important that the obstacles which so far have impeded the full implementation of the permanent electoral council be resolved as swiftly as possible. A stable political context and a security situation that is under control are preconditions for supporting the reconstruction and economic recovery process. The European Union, in promoting development, continues its financial support and technical assistance to improve administrative capacities, including the ability of the State to promote and uphold human rights, as well as to advance reforms related to governance, security and strengthening the democratic system. Creating conditions conducive to foreign investment is a priority of the Haitian Government and would be another matter to deal with. In spite of progress achieved by the Haitian authorities, among other things in enhancing the capacity of the Haitian National Police, we note that MINUSTAH’s presence continues to be crucial in guaranteeing the security and stability in the country. The European Union and its member States welcome the proposals of the Secretary-General to extend the mandate of the Mission and to reconfigure and progressively withdraw on the basis of stabilization benchmarks. That is a difficult and ambitious challenge but one that, in our view, can be achieved. The withdrawal must go hand in hand with strengthening the Haitian National Police. It is also a matter of strengthening Haiti’s State institutions, which must fully undertake the civilian duties that were part of MINUSTAH’s mandate up until now, in particular the organizing and funding of the electoral process. The European Union is currently envisaging the possibility of implementing measures to support security sector reform in Haiti, with particular reference to the Haitian National Police. Moreover, establishing an integrated border management system for internal and external borders, recommended by the Haitian Administration, is also an area in which the European Union could provide assistance. Over the past 12 months, the European Union has supported Haiti in its long-term rebuilding and development process. In that regard, 85 per cent of the €522 million pledged at the International Donors’ Conference, held in New York in 2010, has already been disbursed. With regard to the rate of disbursal, we hope that over the next year the pace of expenditure will accelerate, thereby enabling us to honour by the end of 2013 the commitment we made in New York. Finally, we hail the efforts of the Haitian Government to implement a new mechanism for aid coordination, and we reiterate our willingness to participate in that endeavour. We hope that it will be an instrument that contributes to improving the effectiveness and transparency of aid management. We are also pleased with the progress made in implementing the strategic development framework for 2013-2015. In conclusion, the Secretary-General’s recommendations are part of a process of consolidating and stabilizing security and democracy in Haiti. A progressive handover of MINUSTAH’s duties should contribute to that process. The European Union and its member States remain fully committed to providing Haitian authorities with the support they need to achieve that goal. It also goes without saying that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General can also count on our full cooperation, and we thank him for the work he has done.

I now give the floor to the representative of Peru.

I would first like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on Guatemala’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the first time in its history, as well as for your initiative in convening this open debate on the situation in Haiti. Guatemala’s presiding presence at this debate reflects its unshakable commitment to Haiti’s situation, the only issue in the region on the Council’s agenda. We also welcome the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui. Haiti’s security, stability, development and consolidation are particularly important to Peru. For that reason, my country has played an active part in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) since 2004, with a military contingent of 366 troops as well as officials at the Mission headquarters. Peru is also a participant in the Group of Friends of Haiti, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti of the Economic and Social Council, the Group of Friends of Haiti of the Organization of American States and the Latin American Political Coordination Mechanism for Haiti. Peru is convinced that there can be no social and economic development that is sustainable over time without solid institutions that promote and sustain such development. We reaffirm the validity of the principle of national ownership, by which the Government of Haiti will lead the process of rebuilding its infrastructure, consolidating its national institutions, strengthening the rule of law, consolidating democracy and creating capacities. In that regard, we believe that the work of MINUSTAH continues to be essential to providing the Haitian authorities with the security and support needed to facilitate that process, in accordance with its established strategy and national priorities. It is in that context that my delegation would like to draw the Council’s attention to two aspects of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2012/678) that Peru considers to be of primary importance: the first has to do with the need for continued support for the Haitian authorities in creating and strengthening solid public institutions, which will enable the country to respond effectively to the problems of security and development facing it; the second has to do with formulating a plan for reconfiguring and consolidating MINUSTAH, based on the new conditions in Haiti and the current needs of the Haitian people. As was noted by previous speakers, the progress that the Government of Haiti has made in strengthening its democratic institutions and the rule of law is encouraging. In that regard, some of the important benchmarks are Parliament’s ratification of the choice of Lauren Lamothe as Prime Minister, the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the publication of the constitutional amendments, which, among other things, establish a quota of not less than 30 per cent representation of women in the Government. We welcome that development. In recognition of the democratic desires of the Haitian people, we call on all political forces in the country to help in speedily establishing the Permanent Electoral Council, the body responsible for ensuring that the next electoral proceedings will be conducted in a transparent, democratic and unhindered manner. In that connection, I would like to highlight the importance of the support of MINUSTAH and other regional bodies in the area of electoral assistance. The progress MINUSTAH has made in stabilizing Haiti over the past few years makes it possible for us to contemplate the future with optimism, by which we believe that the time has come to begin a gradual, orderly process of transition to a second phase in the Organization’s cooperation with Haiti. In that regard, we concur with the Secretary-General as to the importance of formulating a plan for reconfiguring and restructuring MINUSTAH so as to consolidate the achievements made in the area of stabilization. To that end, we believe that it is essential to have more and better coordination between MINUSTAH and the various agencies and programmes of the United Nations that have a presence on the ground. We also call on the various United Nations agencies and donors to channel their cooperation with Haiti through the new aid coordination mechanism recently approved by the Cabinet. I would like to acknowledge the progress that has been made in organizing and strengthening the Haitian National Police, allowing it to take on a major role in the protection and security of its citizens, as was demonstrated by the recent transfer to the police of security functions in four regions of the country. We welcome the five-year development plan for the Haitian National Police for 2012-2016, which will enable the Haitian police to hire the officers necessary for it to maintain public order and security throughout the country in the near future, and to establish a solid institution based on promoting strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights. Peru appeals to the international community to focus on the issue of the Haitian people’s food and health problems. The improved stabilization must be accompanied by improvements in health care and proper nutrition for the people of Haiti, and the specialized agencies of the United Nations should devote special attention to those needs. The significant achievements to date should not give us the false impression that the work in Haiti is over or even close to it. Experience has taught us the dire consequences for some countries when the Organization decides to withdraw its presence on the ground too early, and we trust that we will not make the same error this time. That is why my delegation would like to know what will become of the continuity of the important work we are doing together when the mandate of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fernández Amunátegui, who has done truly valuable work, comes to an end. We are sure that Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon will respond in a timely and effective manner to that important issue. Finally, my delegation is of the view that the work in Haiti of the United Nations in general, and of MINUSTAH in particular, is far from over. For that reason, we trust that the Security Council will renew MINUSTAH’s mandate and will continue its permanent support for building and strengthening solid national institutions with the goal of achieving a robust rule of law and a strengthening of Haiti’s weak institutional capacities by first strengthening its human and material resources. That would require a focus on the three areas directly connected to the current process of recovery and reconstruction, namely, governance, security and development.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

I would like to express my appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Harold Caballeros, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala, for presiding over this debate. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, for his comprehensive briefing this morning. And I would like to pay tribute to the men and women of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for their commitment and the fortitude they have demonstrated in difficult circumstances. I welcome the Secretary-General’s report on MINUSTAH, issued on 31 August (S/2012/678). As the report mentions, MINUSTAH’s personnel has shown continued dedication and commitment in support of Haiti’s recovery and stability, and we commend them for that and for the concrete results they have achieved. Based on the situation in Haiti, we welcome the fact that MINUSTAH is refocusing its efforts on long-term stabilization and development. The international community acknowledges and welcomes the progress that has been made in Haiti’s recovery. Since the earthquake in 2010, more than 10 million cubic metres of debris have been removed and the number of internally displaced persons has been reduced by more than 75 per cent. As the report of the Secretary- General points out, plans for the reconfiguration and consolidation of MINUSTAH warrant consideration. Now that more than two and a half years have passed since the deadly earthquake, the necessity and significance of the Mission remain high, but the needs of the Haitian people have shifted. Haiti has made remarkable progress since Japan pledged $100 million for emergency relief and reconstruction for Haiti in 2010. In fact, Japan has already disbursed an amount exceeding its original pledge. In recognition of such progress on the ground, the Government of Japan decided in July that it would start a wind-up phase of the operations of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s engineering unit in Haiti, with a view to its eventual departure from MINUSTAH. As Haiti is now entering the reconstruction phase, we believe that the country has reached a stage where our Self-Defense Force unit is becoming less needed. The number of personnel who have served in the Japanese contingent since its beginning now totals approximately 2,200. The contingent has made contributions to the recovery of Haiti through a variety of efforts, such as the removal of rubble, dismantling of damaged buildings, repair of facilities in camps for internally displaced persons, road repair, construction of orphanage facilities and water distribution in response to the cholera outbreak. In spite of the progress made on the road to recovery, it is certain that Haiti will still be obliged to improve its basic infrastructure services with respect to roads, electricity and potable water, as well as social services, including access to education and medicine. High levels of unemployment and delinquency problems also exist. Many challenges remain for Haiti with respect to its recovery, reconstruction and development. International support will still be needed. However, we acknowledge the fact that Haiti has been making serious efforts towards its reconstruction, and we are convinced that Haiti will do its utmost to achieve most of its recovery on its own. President Martelly has said he is making the five “E”s — education, employment, environment, establishment of the rule of law and energy — a priority. We welcome the Haitian efforts to strengthen the rule of law and improve the security situation. Japan expects Haiti to continue its efforts, not only in those areas, but also in poverty reduction and in ensuring the welfare of all Haitian people. We further welcome the publication of a corrected version of the constitutional amendments and the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. We urge all relevant political actors in Haiti to continue their dialogue and cooperation towards the establishment of a permanent electoral council. Japan expects the next election in Haiti to be carried out in a peaceful and democratic manner. It is our hope that the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Haiti will be further accelerated under the leadership of President Martelly and Prime Minister Lamothe, along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Mr. Harold Caballeros López. Even after the withdrawal of its engineering unit, Japan intends to continue its support for Haiti. The Japan Self-Defense Force’s engineering unit’s contributions include human resource development for Haitian citizens through the sharing of expertise in the use of civil engineering equipment. In addition, we are now considering the possibility of donating such equipment to the Haitian Government. The time has now come for us to shift from emergency support to long-lasting contributions. Through our efforts, including providing training the delivery of basic social services such as health, hygiene and education, we will continue to support Haiti’s reconstruction and development. As the Council is aware, more than one and a half years have passed since 11 March 2011, when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck our country. We are most grateful for the solidarity expressed to the Japanese people by the people of Haiti as we embark on similar endeavours. I am confident that both Haiti and Japan, in close collaboration with the international community, will overcome their difficulties through mutual encouragement and steadfast efforts to bring about a brighter future.

I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Guatemala on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the first time since it joined the United Nations. We would also like to express our pleasure at the fact that today’s debate is taking place under the Guatemalan presidency, given the role that Guatemala has played in the stabilization of Haiti and in providing assistance to it over the years. The issue before us is one that brings all countries of Latin America and the Caribbean together. I also wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Fernández Amunátegui, for his briefing and for the considerations he expressed, to which we fully subscribe. I also wish to note that Argentina fully supports the statement of Ambassador José Luis Cancela of Uruguay, who spoke on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti. For that reason, I would like only to add a few remarks in my national capacity. First of all, I wish to reiterate the firm commitment of Argentina to the institutional stability and development of Haiti, which has been ongoing for 18 years now and is expressed today in our continued participation in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and our bilateral technical cooperation with the Haitian Government. Like the Secretary-General in his report (S/2012/678), my delegation understands that MINUSTAH continues to be a decisive factor in establishing an environment of security and stability in Haiti on a permanent basis. As the Secretary-General recognizes in his report, the Haitian National Police is not yet in a position where it can take full responsibility for the safeguarding of internal security in the country. That is why my country supports the extension of the Mission’s mandate for an additional year, as its presence is still needed by the Haitian Government. Although we support the extension and although Argentina is aware that the political and social situation in Haiti continues to be complex, we wish to highlight the progress made in strengthening political institutions and the rule of law. We also salute the establishment by the Haitian Government of an aid coordination mechanism that will ensure its full participation in decision-making when it comes to the use of the funds and other issues having to do with cooperation projects in the country. We understand that the new mechanism will provide consistency and organization with respect to aid from the international community and facilitate the development of the institutional capacity of the Government itself to strengthen sustainable development within the framework of the strategic development plan. In that sense, Argentina’s understanding is that progress in stabilization must be accompanied by growth and development in the country on the basis of priorities established by the Haitian Government. For that purpose, it is important to strengthen the public- sector institutions so that efforts for development will be sustainable over time and so that the sector can provide the basic services needed, even when the United Nations is no longer present in the country. Ambassador Fernández Amunátegui spoke eloquently about the challenges for development, particularly with regard to food security, that Haiti is facing and will continue to face over the coming years. We full share the views of the Special Representative, and we believe that the international community must give particular attention to those challenges in the coming years. Argentina considers that it is necessary to further study the future of the Mission in order to prepare an orderly drawdown strategy that will respond to the interests of the authorities and the people of Haiti and to the situation of the country when it comes to security and its interrelationship with sustainable development. We also understand that it is essential for Haiti to participate in decision-making on issues having to do with the peacekeeping operation deployed on its territory. We believe it is important for the Secretariat to periodically report to troop-contributing countries. For Argentina, strengthening insitutional capacities of the Haitian Government must be an essential component for any drawdown strategy or any potential transition pact. Furthermore, Argentina believes that strengthening institutions, among other aspects in the administration of justice, the promotion and protection of human rights and economic and social development, is key to carrying out MINUSTAH’s mandate. Before concluding, my delegation has said on previous occasions at the Council that the goal of our work in Haiti is should be that the presence of the United Nations and the international community is no longer be needed because Haitian authorities will be able to take responsibility for economic and social development owing to the strength of their own political institutions. Finally, I would like to pay special tribute to the work accomplished by Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui in his capacity as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of MINUSTAH. At the time of his appointment, Argentina warmly welcomed the Secretary-General’s decision. As he nears the end of his tenure, I wish to express, on behalf the Government of Argentina, our recognition for his work and that of his team, and especially for all the efforts they made over the years. We believe that Ambassador Fernández Amunátegui has represented us in an exemplary fashion, and we are certain that he will conclude his term with the great satisfaction of having done his duty and reached the objectives set for him at the beginning of his work.

I now give the floor to the representative of Spain. Mr.Arias (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): It is a true honour for me to have the opportunity to participate in this meeting of the Security Council, presided over by Guatemala for the first time in history. I would like to associate myself with the statement made by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, and I wish to add the following considerations on behalf of my delegation. Spain continues to be firmly committed to supporting the effort of the Government and the people of Haiti in the work of rebuilding the country following the 2010 earthquake. That is demonstrated by the fact that Spain is the third largest bilateral donor to Haiti. To date, we have disbursed $225 million, 65 per cent of the $346 million committed at the New York Haiti Donors’ Conference of 2010. That amount was devoted, as a priority among other commitments and in agreement with the Government of Haiti, to projects in the water and sanitation, education, rural development and food production sectors, as well as in the fight against hunger, of course. I wish to highlight Spain’s contribution to the cooperation fund for water and sanitation, with a total investment of more than $150 million, which will potentially benefit 6.5 million citizens, or 70 per cent of the country’s population. In the business sector, working with the Inter-American Development Bank, Spain in finalizing the implementation of a specific fund for promoting small — and medium-sized businesses. In addition, the President of the Government of Spain, Mr. Mariano Rajoy Brey, proposed to President Michel Joseph Martelly, here in New York last week, that Spain would facilitate deploying to Haiti a mission of Spanish businesspeople to explore new forms of cooperation with the private sector. Spain has also participated in the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, donating$20 million to the latter. Following the end of the Commission’s mandate, in October 2011, Spain has supported the Haitian Government’s proposal to designate the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation as the counterpart of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund. We believe that is the best way of directly encouraging ownership and capacity-building in the Haitian administration. We are pleased with the progress that has taken place in the Haitian political situation since the previous debate in the Chamber, in March (see S/PV.6732). Signs of stability after the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Mr. Laurent Salvador Lamothe, and the formation of the bodies provided for in the 1987 Constitution are very good news. It is our hope that the Haitian Government will also be able to make progress in constituting the Permanent Electoral Council, such that in the electoral processes to be held in 2013, the Council will be able to take over the functions assigned to it by the Constitution. On the matter of security, Spain reiterates its commitment to strengthening the Haitian National Police. The objective is for the police to gradually take over its responsibilities for public order, and for Haiti to take over the responsibility for its own security. In the meantime, Spain believes that the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti’ continues to be essential. We therefore support the recommendation to renew its mandate. Finally, I wish to add my voice to those who welcomed the new aid coordination mechanism presented by Prime Minister Lamothe on 26 September here in New York during the ministerial meeting held under the slogan “Haiti Partners”. The motto for Spanish cooperation in Haiti has always been “Everything for Haiti, but with Haiti”. Spain is therefore prepared to participate in the new mechanism, the objective of which is to increase the effectiveness and transparency of assistance, reduce overlaps and make it possible for Haitian authorities to take greater ownership of the process. We hope that the mechanism, along with the progress made towards a more stable political environment, will make it possible to increase disbursements of development assistance. Finally, I wish to thank Ambassador Fernández Amunátegui for the work he has done.

I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

I first wish to thank the delegation of Guatemala for having organized the debate on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Allow me to express my thanks to Guatemala for presiding over the Security Council this month. I also wish to acknowledge the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, who has given us a very comprehensive view of what is happening on the ground. We also appreciate the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General (S/2012/678), which we are studying. We agaree that the conditions for political stabilization in Haiti have been making progress. That would not have taken place without MINUSTAH’s valuable contribution to improving the security situation in the country and to promoting political dialogue. We take note of the process of the peaceful transition of power, as well as the recent publication of constitutional reforms to establish the Permanent Electoral Council. Those are significant steps towards strengthening democratic life in Haiti. We also welcome the launching of a development plan that is intended to attact foreign investment, help combat corruption and smuggling, and promote industrial projects as the basis for the country’s sustainable development. However, we acknowldege that there are still challenges to which we should respond and that it is essential for MINUSTAH to have the necessary resources to respond to them. We must continue supporting the strengthening of security institutions, especially the Haitian National Police, which still does not have the ability to take full responsibility for internal security in Haiti. Therefore a MINUSTAH troop and police presence continues to be necessary, in terms of both coverage and training. It is likewise important that the Haitian Government, with the support of the international community and of countries in the region in particular, continue with its efforts to fight unemployment and poverty in Haiti, which have a direct impact on the living conditions of the Haitian people. The international aid coordination mechanism announced by the Haitian authorities during the general debate of the General Assembly some days ago will contribute to ensuring that such aid is channelled towards meeting the priorities identified by the Haitian Government. It is true that if those efforts fail, Haiti will continue to suffer conditions which promote instability and which could worsen due to its vulnerability to natural disasters. Mexico is firmly committed to efforts aimed at promoting stability and sustainable development in Haiti. We therefore support the renewal of the mandate of MINUSTAH for another year and its reconfiguration. We firmly believe that the men and women deployed in Haiti will continue working in close cooperation with the Haitian Government to lay the foundations of a prosperous and peaceful Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

I am pleased to see Guatemala assume the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I thank your country, Sir, for having organized this meeting to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), a matter of great importance in our region of Latin America and the Caribbean. My delegation welcomes the presence of Ambassador Mariano Fernández Amunátegui and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Secretary-General for his wise choice in appointing him his Special Representative for Haiti and for the efforts he has made to build a better future for this sister nation. Ecuador’s commitment to the stabilization process in Haiti is well known. Therefore, since the beginning of the Haitian crisis in 2004, we have been participating actively in MINUSTAH, in keeping with the central principle of our foreign relations to provide unwavering support in humanitarian crisis situations and seek to resolve conflicts. It is worth underscoring that my country does not merely contribute troops to peacekeeping operations; we have implemented a series of measures and actions which together form a comprehensive policy, including, for example, Ecuador’s peacekeeping school, where soldiers are trained to tackle problems faced by internally displaced persons and refugees, and to respond to humanitarian disasters, as well as prepared to resolve conflicts with civilians. I take this opportunity to recall that following the earthquake of January 2010, my country, under the auspices of the Union of South American Nations, cooperated directly with the Government of Haiti in rebuilding roads, bridges and access routes in the Artibonite area, which allowed farmers to bring their produce to cities, thus contributing to the development of food security in the most important producing area of Haiti and thereby to the country’s sustainable development. Ecuador welcomes the progress made, which has improved conditions in Haiti. These include the ratification by the Senate of the new Prime Minister and the publication of the corrected constitutional amendments which had been awaited since June 2011. Likewise, the establishment of the Superior Council of the Judiciary is another step forward in the work of the Haitian Government in strengthening institutions essential to the rule of law and thereby human rights. However, Ecuador is concerned to see that the process of the establishment of Haiti’s first Permanent Electoral Commission is plagued by controversy between political parties in Parliament and civil society, who have questioned the integrity of the Council and its ability to organize credible elections, which has led a number of lawmakers to favour the establishment of a provisional electoral council. In this regard, my country hopes that all stakeholders will participate in a constructive dialogue with a view to holding credible elections without further delay and thereby contribute to revitalizing Haitian institutions and minimizing the institutional vacuum created by the expiration on 8 May of the mandate of 10 senators. Ecuador commends the progress made in extending State authority, including over border control and in strengthened security. However, we note that violence continues to be concentrated in major urban areas, signalling that the National Police continues to face challenges when it comes to fully assuming its responsibility for safety in the country. In this context, MINUSTAH’s social and military components play an essential role in maintaining security and stability in general. In conclusion, Ecuador supports the recommendation made by the Secretary-General in his latest report (S/2012/678) to extend the MINUSTAH mandate for a further year. Haiti undeniably continues to be threatened by food insecurity, growing poverty and a fragile humanitarian situation. My Government hopes that measures can be devised to optimize coordination and joint efforts by the Group of Friends of Haiti, donor countries, and the authorities and the Government of Haiti in order to achieve the badly needed social, political and economic stability that the people of Haiti demand and deserve.

I shall now give the floor to Mr. Fernández Amunátegui to respond to the comments made.

I would like to express my most sincere thanks to the Guatemalan presidency for having organized this meeting, espeecially as this is the first time that that country has assumed the presidency of the Security Council since the United Nations was founded. I think that this is a very important moment for us. I would also like to express my gratitude for the unanimous support for the recommendation of the Secretary-General, his report (S/2012/678) and the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for a further year. I would also like to express my deepest thanks for the support expressed for the work of MINUSTAH. I believe that the men and women of the Mission richly deserve such support, and it was delivered most eloquently. Lastly, I wish to express my personal thanks to the international community. In today’s debate, we have noted how institutional and political progress is leading to greater stability in Haiti. That progress has truly been due to the unified voice and action of the international community, especially the permanent diplomatic presences in Haiti, but also the missions that have visited and the diplomats and embassies represented here. There has never been a single dissenting voice in our efforts to politically stabilize Haiti. Quite the contrary: we have always had very active agreement, which has been felt by the Government, public opinion, the opposition, Parliament and civil society. This concord has made an extraordinary contribution to continued progress. I cannot say that no progress would have been achieved without it, but I believe that the difficulties would have been much greater and the progress much more minimal. Therefore, I wish to thank and congratulate the international community on behalf of MINUSTAH for the outstanding work we have been able to achieve.

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.