S/PV.7024 Security Council

I should like, at the outset of the meeting, to extend, on behalf of the Council, a warm welcome to the new Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Liu Jieyi, who will join us for today’s meeting. We very much look forward to collaborating closely with him. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Haiti, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay to participate in this meeting. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Sandra Honoré, 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 His Excellency Mr. Ioannis Vrailas, Deputy 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/2013/493, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. I now give the floor to Ms. Honoré.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Republic of Argentina, in its capacity as President of the Security Council this month, and to all members for organizing this meeting, whose purpose is to present to the Council the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2013/493). I am also pleased to have an opportunity to share with the Council, for the first time in my capacity as Special Representative of the Secretary-General, an assessment of the most recent developments in the political and security situations in Haiti, as well as an overview of MINUSTAH’s activities in the past few months in supporting peacebuilding and political stability and in strengthening the rule of law. (spoke in French) I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the presence in the Chamber of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Haiti. (spoke in Spanish) I would like to begin my report with special thanks to all the countries that are contributing troops and police units to MINUSTAH and to all those Member States that have cooperated in the stabilization and reconstruction process for their valuable support for the consolidation of peace and democracy in Haiti. (spoke in English) Since my predecessor’s most recent briefing to the Security Council last March (see S/PV.6936), the overall security situation in Haiti has remained relatively stable, with a decrease in both civil unrest and major crimes. Statistics show a downward trend in homicides, kidnappings and incidents of violent civil unrest during the first half of the year, as compared to the same period in 2012. However, we have recently seen an increased occurrence of politically motivated protests linking socioeconomic grievances with broader anti-Government messages, including dissatisfaction with the ongoing electoral stalemate. With the support of the United Nations police, the performance of the Haitian National Police has improved as it has continued to assume increased responsibility for the provision of internal security, particularly in the 4 of the country’s 10 regions vacated by MINUSTAH’s military component. Nevertheless, MINUSTAH’s military and police continue to play an important role in supporting the National Police in maintaining overall security and stability. The further strengthening of the National Police remains a critical stabilization benchmark, particularly as MINUSTAH proceeds to consolidate. Turning to the political situation, the continued delay in the holding of long-overdue partial senatorial, municipal and local elections is of increasing concern and poses a series of risks to the stabilization process. Yesterday’s long-awaited submission to Parliament by President Martelly of the draft electoral law that is required to launch the electoral process is a most welcome development. However, there have been protracted delays caused, in part, by the eight months that it took the three branches of Government to designate the nine members of the Electoral Council, which was eventually established in April 2013, followed by the delayed submission of the draft electoral law by the Electoral Council to the executive, and by the executive to Parliament. Despite the executive branch’s repeated public statements in favour of holding the elections as soon as possible, those delays have led a number of political and civil society actors to express skepticism concerning the likelihood that elections will be held in 2013. (spoke in French) If the provisions of the 2008 electoral law were to be implemented and the Senate elections were not held by January 2014, the Senate, and, as a logical consequence, the Parliament, could become ineffective. That would represent a genuine setback in the democratic process, which Haiti does not have the luxury to afford. In such a case, a possible mobilization of opposition forces and civil society could not be excluded, which would destabilize the political and security situation. (spoke in English) Delays in the submission of the draft electoral law by the executive to Parliament fuelled speculation among legislators that the executive had intentionally delayed the process to ensure that Parliament would become non-functional. That perception united a grouping of main opposition parties that repeatedly and publicly called on President Martelly to uphold the constitutional requirement of timely elections, or else to resign, thus popularizing the chant calling for “elections or resignation”. Meanwhile, a controversy has erupted concerning the sudden death, on 13 July, of a judge who had subpoenaed the Prime Minister and other senior Government officials in the context of an investigation into allegations of corruption concerning members of the first family. Observers have expressed concern about the independence of the judiciary, following a series of controversial arrest warrants issued against persons related to the investigation of the alleged corruption case. In the meantime, special commissions of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies have investigated the circumstances of the judge’s death. In that climate of polarization and heightened mutual suspicion, I have been engaging Haiti’s key political actors on both sides of the divide to promote dialogue aimed at reaching a minimum agreement on the way forward, particularly concerning the elections. I have also met regularly with members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Haiti, including troop- contributing countries, to ensure that every effort is made to guarantee the continuity of the country’s institutions, most notably the continued functioning of Parliament beyond January 2014. It is important that we, as the international community, remain united in our common message and speak with one voice. With regard to MINUSTAH’s conditions-based consolidation, the military and police components completed their mandated reduction of personnel during the reporting period, in accordance with resolution 2070 (2012). The Mission stands ready to proceed with further adjustments in troop strength as may be mandated by the Council in October. Concerning cholera, as of 29 June, the epidemic had caused the deaths of 8,173 persons and infected more than 660,000. The budget of the national plan for the elimination of cholera amounts to $443.7 million for the period 2013 to 2015, of which roughly 47 per cent has been pledged. The United Nations continues to support the Government of Haiti with the various short- and medium-term priorities that need to be addressed to eliminate cholera transmission in the country. My predecessor, as well as MINUSTAH’s Deputy Special Representative, and I have met on several occasions with President Martelly and Prime Minister Lamothe to explain the ongoing reduction of MINUSTAH’s footprint and the Mission’s consolidation plan with its four areas of stabilization benchmarks. Both leaders have expressed support for a phased withdrawal of the Mission as the capacity of national institutions increases. In that regard, a joint Government-MINUSTAH working group was established in April to monitor the gradual and orderly transfer of responsibilities to the Government. It is vital that the Government, with MINUSTAH’s support, continue to work on multiple fronts to advance progress towards the stabilization benchmarks. The gains in stability and security need to be sustained in order for Haiti to succeed in its ongoing effort to forge economic partnerships, attract foreign investment and foster socioeconomic development — the cornerstone of enduring stability. Concerning the police development benchmarks, achieving the targets of the 2012-2016 police development plan will require the continued commitment of the Government and Member States to ensure that the appropriate funding is made available to support a professional, reliable and accountable police force. Outstanding challenges include insufficient regional coverage by the police force, due to staffing shortages, and the need to continue strengthening the institution’s management and administrative capacity and its Inspectorate General. The delays in the establishment of the Electoral Council and the lack of clarity on the electoral law have so far impaired the electoral body’s capacity to significantly advance preparations for the electoral process. Nevertheless, the Electoral Council has issued a request for its operational costs to be included in the 2013-2014 national budget and the Council’s Director General and Council members have started their electoral planning. MINUSTAH’s objective is to create the conditions that will allow the Government of Haiti to progressively assume greater responsibility for the management of the electoral process. With regard to respect for the rule of law, although the oversight and accountability mechanisms provided for in the Constitution have been established, it is critical that the Government and its international partners continue to build the capacity of those institutions. For example, without the establishment of a strong inspectorate for the vetting of judicial appointments, the Superior Council of the Judiciary will not be able to effectively exercise oversight. Strengthening the rule of law also entails allowing key oversight institutions to operate independently. With regard to the Mission’s governance benchmarks, MINUSTAH has concentrated its good offices efforts on promoting dialogue among national stakeholders to overcome the electoral stalemate. During the reporting period, the strained relations between the executive branch and Parliament impeded the adoption of a consensual legislative agenda, another key governance indicator. That situation impaired progress on crucial legislative reform, such as the law against money laundering, the law on the financing of political parties and the revision of the criminal code and the criminal procedure code. In conclusion, Haiti is at a critical juncture. Indeed, progress in the fields of security and stabilization, as well as the concerted efforts of the Martelly/Lamothe Government for socioeconomic development, could be jeopardized by the instability resulting from the polarization linked to the election stalemate. MINUSTAH, in close consultation with its international partners, continues to work to convince national stakeholders that a minimum political consensus that makes it possible to hold elections as soon as possible and an agreement on the continuity of institutions are in their best interest and that of the nation. To that end, the interest shown by national stakeholders for dialogue as a means of a means of reaching an agreement is one reason to remain optimistic and should be encouraged. A mediation initiative, as well our intensified efforts to promote dialogue among national actors, could form the basis of an inter-Haitian process that would be able to overcome the current stalemate and prevent a potential crisis that could have an affect on the stability of Haiti. (spoke in Spanish) The search for avenues to facilitate dialogue and consensus among Haitians is essential in building a country able to stand on its own, with democratic institutions that will give concrete answers to the many challenges that lie ahead and take Haiti out of the institutional cyclical crisis that has characterized it, and very often paralyzed it.

I thank Ms. Honoré for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council.

I thank Special Representative Sandra Honoré for her briefing, which, together with the Secretary-General’s report (S/2013/493), show that real progress is occurring in Haiti, while more work is needed to ensure that it lasts. The United States reaffirms its support for the Secretary-General’s conditions-based consolidation plan for MINUSTAH and his recommendation for the withdrawal of additional military elements, provided that conditions on the ground allow for it and that the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintains a robust, quick-reaction capability. Political stability, in particular, is crucial to continued progress in Haiti. The establishment of the transitional Electoral Council was an important step, but the ongoing delay in the scheduling of local municipal and senatorial elections is worrying. The elections must be held as soon as possible and need to be credible, free, fair and inclusive. To that end, we welcome the submission of the draft electoral law to the Parliament and urge Haiti’s political leaders to work together now to publish a new electoral law that fully accords with Haiti’s Constitution. In that regard the United States very much appreciates Special Representative Honoré’s efforts to promote dialogue among Haiti’s political actors. Political stability requires security and, therefore, that recent security gains be sustained, such as the improved performance of the Haitian National Police and reinvigorated police recruitment efforts, which are critical for Haiti’s future. We encourage MINUSTAH to maintain capacity-building of the Haitian National Police as its highest priority. That should include strong recruitment and retention efforts to ensure that the force reaches its goal of 15,000 officers by 2016, with an emphasis on recruiting women and expert personnel capable of addressing the needs that the Secretary- General identified in his report. The United States would like to see MINUSTAH’s community-violence reduction programmes sustained, as they increase public safety by offering at-risk youth productive employment and reduce their vulnerability to gang recruitment. For the sake of long-term security, better policing cannot happen in isolation but must be accompanied by improvements in the rule of law. The United States therefore strongly supports MINUSTAH’s assistance to Haitian institutions responsible for ensuring the rule of law. We also welcome the new United Nations Rule of Law Working Group coordination mechanism, which should coordinate closely with civil society, donors and the Government of Haiti to identify priorities for the justice sector and set concrete, realistic benchmarks for Haiti’s rule-of- law priorities, including the protection of human rights for all Haitians. In that vein, the Government’s establishment of the interministerial commission on human rights to promote and protect human rights is a positive step. The Government’s statement in July calling for tolerance and rejecting violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people was another welcome development. Indeed, protecting Haiti’s most vulnerable citizens must also remain a priority for the Haitian Government and for MINUSTAH. Sexual and gender-based violence tragically persists in Haiti. It is a significant problem, one that MINUSTAH must continue to address, including by training police to prevent and respond to such crimes. Meanwhile, the voluntary resettlement of displaced persons should continue in a manner that fully respects the rights of the displaced, while those in the camps must have adequate services and security. The health and well-being of the Haitian people are important to the United States. As part of our broad assistance programme in Haiti, and in coordination with the United Nations and other donors, we continue to support the Haitian Government’s efforts to treat and prevent cholera. Before concluding, I want to reinforce our support for MINUSTAH’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. Such incidents are unacceptable stains on MINUSTAH and the United Nations. We encourage continuing and determined efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as other misconduct by peacekeepers. Finally, let me reiterate the deep gratitude of the United States to those serving in MINUSTAH, who work tirelessly every day to improve the lives of the Haitian people. As MINUSTAH moves forward with the conditions- based consolidation plan, the United States welcomes the Secretary-General’s forthcoming examination of how the United Nations can best continue to contribute to Haiti’s stabilization and development. Although key challenges remain, Haiti is becoming more stable. The United States remains committed to working with the Government and people of Haiti, as well as the United Nations and international partners, to build a more secure and prosperous future for the country.

We are grateful to the Secretary-General for submitting the report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2013/493), as well as providing an update on progress made during the reporting period towards the implementation of the mission consolidation plan outlined in his previous report (S/2013/139). We welcome the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Ms. Sandra Honoré, to the Council and thank her for presenting the report of the Secretary-General. I would like to take this opportunity once again to commend MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, which continue to play an important role in supporting the recovery and stabilization of Haiti. As the Secretary-General emphasized in his report, the progress made in the stabilization of Haiti since the initial deployment of MINUSTAH, in 2004, has been considerable. The overall security situation in the country remained relatively stable throughout the reporting period, with a decrease in both civil unrest and major crimes. The performance of the Haitian National Police (HNP) continues to improve as it assumes increased responsibility for the provision of internal security. We also commend the Government for its efforts to move forward with socioeconomic development that has resulted, inter alia, in a significant increase in economic partnership. At the same time, Haiti continues to face numerous challenges. As the Secretary-General pointed out, the democratic process in Haiti remains vulnerable to setbacks linked to political instability and infighting among the branches of the Government. It is important that all political actors in Haiti engage in a constructive dialogue to preserve the progress achieved so far and address their differences in a spirit of compromise. Such dialogue is particularly important for reaching a minimum political consensus on holding long-overdue elections as soon as possible and on the key legislative priorities. It is essential that the United Nations continue to support the upcoming elections and contribute to the progress on the launch of the electoral process. It is also important to maintain progress made in building the capacity of the HNP. Further efforts are needed to strengthen key rule-of-law institutions, reform the security sector, attract investments, promote sustainable development and advance the democratic agenda. The protection of vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and internally displaced persons, should remain the priority. Significant strides were made regarding the resettlement of persons displaced by the 2010 earthquake, although their protection, along with food insecurity, rapidly decreasing humanitarian funding and continuing deep institutional and structural weakness, remains a concern. Continued strong international engagement and efforts by the Haitian authorities are crucial to improve the current humanitarian situation, in particular with regard to the ongoing cholera epidemic. In conclusion, we take note of the information provided in the report of the Secretary-General that, in accordance with resolution 2070 (2012), the military and police components completed the mandated reduction of their personnel during the reporting period. The role of MINUSTAH in the maintenance of overall security and stability in the country remains vital. Azerbaijan supports the extension of the Mission’s mandate for an additional year. It is important that the possible further reduction in the Mission’s uniform strength, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report, be based on the security and political situation on the ground. We look forward to the next report of the Secretary-General and the proposals on the way forward.

I would like to thank Argentina for organizing, under its presidency of the Council, this debate on Haiti, which is elevated by your presence, Mr. President. I would also like to congratulate the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Ms. Sandra Honoré, on her appointment, and I would like to thank her for her very thorough briefing. We wish her every success in carrying out her functions. Luxembourg associates itself with the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union. Like Ms. Honoré, we believe that Haiti is at a critical turning point. We recognize the significant progress that has been made in Haiti since the earthquake that struck the country in January 2010. However, we are also aware of the many difficulties that the stabilization process continues to face. In order to remedy that, priority must be given to holding, as soon as possible, free, regular, credible elections that are open to everyone. The establishment of the transitional college of the Permanent Electoral Council on 19 April was a step in the right direction. We also welcome the establishment, on 24 June, of a joint taskforce made up of representatives of the transitional college, MINUSTAH, the United Nations Development Programme and of various ministries that have been charged by the Prime Minister to accelerate preparations for elections. We welcome the fact that the path towards elections and the draft law was submitted yesterday by President Martelly to the Parliament. That action must be followed up by determined action on behalf of all political actors to see that elections are held as soon as possible. Luxembourg supports the efforts of MINUSTAH to assist with the electoral process, including the goal of greater participation by women in the electoral process. Given the scale of the challenges that need to be confronted, it is essential that Haiti, with the support of the international community, create a system of governance that is effective and inclusive and capable of meeting the needs of Haitians. The stalemate between the executive and legislative branches cannot continue. We fully support the assertion made by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2013/493) that any consensus on the issue of elections must be accompanied by the identification of major legislative priorities to promote the strengthening of institutions, protect investments and ensure respect for human rights. The establishment of the rule of law has only been moving forward slowly, and the system of justice lacks independence from political power. In his report, the Secretary-General rightly mentions the need to bring an end to the climate of impunity. The case that is under way against former President Jean-Claude Duvalier represents an important test in that regard. It is also necessary to strengthen respect for human rights, specifically by protecting as well as possible vulnerable groups. In spite of the commendable efforts of MINUSTAH’s group on the protection of children, much violence, including sexual violence, is still being committed against children. We noted with concern the mention in the Secretary-General’s report of cases of child slavery. On a more positive note, we would like to note that the security situation has remained relatively stable. We can see a reduction in civil unrest and major crime. The Haitian National Police is growing stronger, and the police force has improved its services, specifically in terms of ensuring security in the four departments that MINUSTAH military forces have now left. We should also welcome the more effective recruitment of cadets in order to achieve the goal of recruiting 15,000 police officers by 2016. Of course, strengthening the Haitian National Police must go hand in hand with professionalism. In that regard, we are worried by cases of the police resorting to excessive force. The humanitarian situation in the country also remains worrying. One and a half million people are suffering from severe food insecurity, including a significant number of children under 5. The cholera epidemic, which has cost more than 8,000 lives, is continuing to ravage the country. We welcome the initiative launched last December by the Secretary- General aimed at eliminating cholera in Haiti. The international community must assist the affected populations. For its part, Luxembourg remains actively committed to helping Haiti overcome the challenges of the humanitarian situation and those associated with rebuilding the country. To conclude, Luxembourg reaffirms its support for MINUSTAH’s adaptable consolidation plan for the stabilization of Haiti, which has been developed jointly with Haitian authorities for the period 2013-2016. It is important for MINUSTAH to focus its attention on the main tasks that can be achieved within a reasonable amount of time. We welcome the ideas and thought processes under way to pursue MINUSTAH’s mid-term reconfiguration. While we wait for the proposals that will appear on that subject in the next report of the Secretary-General, my country remains in favour of renewing the mandate of MINUSTAH for one year, until 15 October 2014.

We welcome your presence here today, Mr. President. We also welcome the new Permanent Representative of China. We congratulate the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ms. Sandra Honoré, for her appointment, and we thank her for her first briefing on the situation in Haiti. We commend personnel from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), who have worked tirelessly on the ground with the Government and the people of Haiti to rebuild that country. Much of that work has been done in the face of natural disasters and an ongoing cholera epidemic. While there is still much work to be done, there has been much encouraging news, including in the latest report (S/2013/493) of the Secretary-General. Since the Security Council last discussed Haiti, in March (see S/PV.6936), some necessary steps towards holding long overdue elections have been taken. The President’s submission to Parliament of a draft electoral law yesterday is the latest of those, and it is very welcome. It remains, however, a matter of great concern that elections continue to be delayed. It is critical to Haiti’s recovery, reconstruction and development that free, fair, inclusive and credible elections be held as soon as possible. We urge all political actors to work towards building the political consensus required to establish the legislation necessary for elections to be held and for MINUSTAH to continue to provide electoral assistance and logistical support for those elections. Political stability and economic development in Haiti are also closely linked. We welcome President Martelly’s emphasis on strengthening institutions so as to facilitate foreign investment in support of socioeconomic development. We note that efforts to attract foreign investment have resulted in a significant increase in economic partnerships. Integration into the Caribbean region should also assist Haiti’s development. The Haitian President’s engagement with the region is welcome. For the first time, Haiti assumed the six-month rotating chairmanship of the Caribbean Community and hosted the Caribbean Community and Common Market Heads of Government meeting. While those are all welcome developments, real change requires sustainable development, growth and regional cooperation and consistent efforts to ensure that the ongoing risk of political instability, as outlined by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, not jeopardize progress. An emphasis by MINUSTAH on building the capacity of the Haitian National Police continues to show results, as demonstrated by increased policing, a responsibility assumed by the local authorities. Close cooperation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police has shown results in combating violence and crime. On that basis and conditioned by the realities on the ground, we agree with the Secretary-General’s proposal for a further reduction in the military component of MINUSTAH. We commend the Secretary-General’s ongoing efforts to eliminate cholera in Haiti. Funding and coordinating the activities of the various stakeholders are, however, still a main challenge. To eradicate that disease, coordination among Haitian national agencies, multilateral organizations and other partners is crucial. We remain deeply concerned by sexual and gender- based violence, including against minors. We are also deeply concerned by the recent increase in homophobic violence in Haiti. We commend MINUSTAH for its swift response in issuing a press release on 16 August calling for tolerance amongt all Haitians. We urge the Haitian Government to continue to work with MINUSTAH to increase efforts to support the prevention of further incidents, promote respect for human rights and strengthen the judicial process. We appreciate the inclusion in the Secretary-General’s report of a progress report on MINUSTAH’s consolidation plan and note the establishment of a joint Government-MINUSTAH working group to monitor the gradual and orderly transfer of responsibilities to the Government. In that regard, we welcome the Secretary-General’s intention, in his next report, to present options for the involvement of the United Nations in Haiti beyond 2016. We look forward to engaging with Haiti and other Member States on the best way for Haiti to transition away from United Nations support, to strengthen institutions and governance, which provide security, justice and jobs, and to break the cycle of poverty and violence.

Allow me, at the outset, to express my congratulations for a very successful Argentine presidency of the Security Council during this month of August, which has been very busy and has demanded the active participation of the presidency and all members of the Council until the very end of August. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Sandra Honoré on her appointment as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I welcome her presence here and thank her for her thorough briefing. We would also like to express our full appreciation to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for the work accomplished so far. Finally, I would like to welcome our new colleague, the Permanent Representative of China, Mr. Liu Jieyi, on the occasion of his first participation in our work. I wish him all the very best. Morocco welcomes the concerted efforts by the Haitian authorities in various areas, especially those to develop its police force, strengthen capacities for elections and promote and ensure respect for human rights, as well as good governance. Politically speaking, the establishment of a transitional college of the permanent Electoral Council, as well as the advances made in the implementation of the Government’s “five Es” policy programme, are positive developments, which we welcome. Now the constitutional work needs to be finalized so as to enable legislative, municipal and local elections to take place as soon as possible. It is a positive sign that yesterday, as the Special Representative indicated, President Martelly submitted a draft law on elections to the Parliament. We would like these elections to be accelerated, and all parties, including MINUSTAH, should assist. We would like to support Ms. Honoré’s efforts in that regard, in particular the announcement and adoption of electoral laws and the promotion of dialogue among the various political stakeholders in order to find a consensus that would enable elections to be held as soon as possible . Concerning security, the collective action of MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police are beginning to bear fruit, thus contributing to progressive and noticeable improvements in the country. The strengthening of recruitment for and capacity development of the Haitian National Police, in accordance with the 2012-2016 development plan, has enabled the police to take on greater responsibility, allowing the withdrawal of MINUSTAH from four departments. In that regard, the decrease by 50 per cent in the number of criminal acts and kidnappings as compared to 2012 is also extremely reassuring. On the humanitarian situation, although encouraging results have been achieved in terms of rehousing displaced persons by the end of 2013, 279,000 people continue to be housed in 352 camps in deplorable sanitary conditions. Furthermore, the persistence of food insecurity, which was exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, is still affecting almost 1.5 million people. Aware of its primary responsibility in improving the socioeconomic situation of its population, the Government invested greatly during the reporting period in promoting and attracting foreign investment. Such efforts should be encouraged, especially given the roll-back in international assistance. Since its establishment, MINUSTAH has decisively contributed to the efforts to stabilize the country. We commend the Mission’s staff for the work that they have accomplished up to this point in spite of the difficulties and obstacles they have faced. While we support the Haitian Government in its efforts to assume its responsibilities, specifically for security and socioeconomic development, we call on MINUSTAH to continue to pursue its valuable support for the Haitian authorities, in close collaboration with the country team and Haiti’s regional and international partners. A short time ago, the Special Representative welcomed and underscored the efforts of senior Haitian officials in the areas of security, reconstruction and the economy. Also in that regard, it is correct to insist on the importance of holding elections as soon as possible. The Haitian political forces are therefore urged at this very crucial stage of the modern history of their country to transcend their differences and put the national interests above their partisan interests in order to ensure the stability of Haiti and the well-being of its people. We hope that they will be up to the task of assuming that responsibility. We are certain that they will spare no effort to achieve that stability, bring Haiti back to a state of normality and launch the sustainable development of the country.

We thank you, Sir, for presiding over this meeting of the Security Council. We welcome Special Representative of the Secretary- General Sandra Honoré and thank her for her insightful briefing. We also thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report (S/2013/493), which gives concrete recommendations for the way forward. Peace and progress in Haiti are shared objectives of the Haitian people, the Security Council and the international community. There has been an impressive turnaround. The brave and resilient people of Haiti have made important strides towards stability, growth and development. The devastating earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Sandy reversed the gains achieved over many years. But today we see a new Haiti emerging from those tragedies. Challenges persist, but the resolve of the Haitian people to build their country is stronger. Haiti has reached important milestones. It is on the road to political stability and economic progress. The consolidation plan seems to be on track, by and large. President Martelly’s outreach for foreign investment in support of job creation and socioeconomic development has led to new economic partnerships and opportunities. The implementation of projects for the construction of roads, schools, clinics, agricultural production and reforestation will give a much needed boost to the economy. There is progress in other areas, too. The Government’s focus on national solidarity and institution-building, especially the establishment of the transitional Electoral Council, are positive signals for the Haitian people and the Council. The performance of the National Police has improved. There has been a decrease in civil unrest and major crimes. The resettlement of people displaced by the 2010 earthquake has been moving apace. President Martelly’s assumption of the Chair of the Caribbean Community gives Haiti a new stature in the region. As pointed out by the Secretary-General, some remaining serious problems could imperil the progress made so far. The differences between the executive and the Parliament should be resolved expeditiously to reach consensus to hold partial senatorial, municipal and local elections. Delay in those elections will have a negative impact on the next set of elections in 2014, undermine the ongoing democratic process and adversely affect economic goals. The Haitian Government and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) should continue to work together to achieve stabilization benchmarks. The Haitian Government needs to allocate more funds to the Electoral Council and National Police to ensure that they stand on their feet and that their performance is optimal. At the same time, the Haitian Government’s requirements to overcome capacity impediments and the management of the electoral process must be recognized and met by international assistance. Haiti needs a strong security sector. Steps taken by Haitian authorities to reinvigorate police recruitment and training are encouraging. Objectives and benchmarks in development plans for the Haitian National Police presented by MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police itself must be met to support a professional, reliable and accountable police force. With regard to rule-of-law institutions, two issues are most important. Haiti’s international partners should do all they can to build the capacities of those institutions. For its part, the Haitian Government should guarantee the independence of the National Police, the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Anti-Corruption Unit. The goals of eradication of cholera, food security and preparedness for natural disasters must continue to be pursued vigorously. We urge greater coordination and cohesion among different actors engaged in humanitarian work. Donor fatigue can result from protracted crises like the one in Haiti. It is therefore imperative for the international community to continue to provide funds and expertise to the country for humanitarian purposes. All indicators suggest that Haiti is moving towards political stability and economic development. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti is a success story. The reconfiguration of MINUSTAH is under way. That process must continue. We hope that, through consultations, the Council will be able to find a plan for contributing to Haiti’s stability as it presses ahead with its plans to scale down United Nations assistance by 2016. A word of caution, however  — since 2004, MINUSTAH has done a commendable job in the stabilization of Haiti. The reconfiguration or drawdown of MINUSTAH must therefore be carefully planned. It should not lead to the reversal of gains made in the country; there should be a gradual and orderly transfer of responsibilities. Pakistan has been a participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Haiti since 1993. Presently, one formed police unit from Pakistan comprising 140 personnel is serving in the country. Pakistan supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Haiti. We remain a sincere partner of the people of the country in their quest for peace, security, stability and progress.

Your presence here today, Mr. President, is a clear demonstration of the importance you attach to the peace, stability, security and development of the Haitian people. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Ms. Sandra Honoré, for her informative briefing on the current developments in Haiti and the work of MINUSTAH. We warmly welcome her to the Council, as this is her first briefing, and we wish her all the best in her leadership of MINUSTAH. We also join others in welcoming the Permanent Representative of China, as this is his first Council meeting. We wish him success in his duties. At the outset, let me commend the tangible progress achieved under the leadership of President Michel Joseph Martelly, particularly in the security sector, the reconstruction process and various socioeconomic sectors. We welcome the commitment of the Government and its partners to fostering greater alignment of international systems with national priorities, increase transparency and strengthen mutual accountability. We hope that those efforts will lead to the rapid recovery of the Haitian economy. Rwanda further acknowledges the importance of the contribution of MINUSTAH and the international community in supporting the stabilization process in Haiti, including the strengthening of its legislative, judicial and executive institutions. It is indeed positive to also note that progress has been made towards to the achievement of the four stabilization benchmarks set out in the MINUSTAH consolidation plan for Haiti. The Government-endorsed United Nations integrated strategic framework for Haiti is a good step in the right direction. It is in that spirit that Rwanda calls upon all the relevant actors and stakeholders to come together around a common development strategy and ensure coherence among the numerous initiatives in support of Haiti’s development. We encourage MINUSTAH and the international community to continue to provide the necessary assistance to the Haitian authorities in strengthening Haiti’s core governance structures and implementing the Government’s action plan for national recovery and development as an efficient and coherent framework. Following the establishment of the transitional Electoral Council, earlier this year, Rwanda encourages all parties to engage in a constructive dialogue in order to reach a political consensus on the holding of the partial senatorial, municipal and local elections. We believe that the completion of that process will contribute to the consolidation of democracy, allow for the completion of the constitutional reform and provide a strong basis for continuing reconstruction efforts. With regard to the possible drawdown of MINUSTAH, Rwanda is of the view that the process should be in line with the security and political conditions on the ground, instead of being driven by a stipulated time frame. Furthermore, the Security Council should closely monitor achievements in the implementation of the MINUSTAH consolidation plan. On the cholera epidemic, Rwanda remains deeply concerned about its devastating consequences for the Haitian population and calls upon all stakeholders, including the United Nations, in close cooperation with the Haitian Government, to continue to mobilize the necessary resources and to assist in the efforts aimed at treating and eradicating the cholera outbreak. Equally important is the need for the international community to invest more in quick-impact projects, in partnership with the Haitian authorities and civil society, in the areas of agriculture and environmental protection in order to assist the Haitian Government with the challenges in terms of food insecurity. Finally, Rwanda will continue to support the Government of Haiti in its reconstruction period, as a police- and troop-contributing country to MINUSTAH. Rwanda remains committed and stands ready to assist the Government in professionalizing its police force. It is also a great honour to have Haiti as a member observer of the African Union, and we encourage the Haitian authorities to further become a full member of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of Africa.

I welcome you to the Security Council, Sir, and Iwould like to warmly welcome as well the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and to thank her for her briefing. I would like to record our thanks here also to Mr. Nigel Fisher for his leadership of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as interim Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We welcome Haiti’s progress since our most recent debate on Haiti (see S/PV.6936) in assuming responsibility for its own security and in fostering an environment that can attract sustainable development. We recognize the important contribution that MINUSTAH is making. We welcome the transfer of responsibility for security in some regions to the Haitian National Police, in line with the core objectives of the 2013-2016 consolidation plan. We note the advances made in Haitian National Police promotion, vetting and training, and we would like to see continued progress in that area. We are pleased to see Haiti building partnerships for sustainable economic development and taking an increasing role in regional forums. That is crucial, because economic investment will create the basis for Haiti’s future stability. Notwithstanding the progress that continues to be made, we remain concerned that delays in crucial political and democratic processes are holding back the country’s development and stability. The continued delay in the holding of planned elections and the negative impact that could have on the ability of the political institutions to function is of particular concern. We call on the Government of Haiti to broker a political agreement that would allow elections to be held this year. Elections are vital to establishing political stability and to building the trust and confidence of the Haitian people, the international community and potential investors. An attractive investment climate will be strengthened by Haiti’s ability to police itself. We welcome the progress made by the Haitian National Police towards reaching the target of 15,000 active police officers by 2015, but further efforts are required to build their institutional and operational capabilities. As highlighted by the Secretary-General’s report (S/2013/493), increased recruitment must be accompanied by improvements in strategic planning, administration, internal affairs and training. For the Haitian National Police to be effective, there must also be reform of the justice sector, to create an independent and impartial judiciary at the regional and national levels. MINUSTAH should focus its resources and efforts on supporting the Government of Haiti in meeting its obligations to improve the political and security situation in the country. That means getting the configuration of troops and police right. Therefore, while we recognize the positive results of the additional work undertaken by the Mission’s engineering teams in supporting quick-impact projects, including road repair, well drilling, draining and canal cleaning, water distribution and the erection of prefabricated units, we believe that those tasks should now be handed over to others — where possible, the local private sector. Where national actors do not yet have the capacity to take on those tasks, all elements of the United Nations system in Haiti need to work together to build that capacity. We believe that MINUSTAH’s continued presence in Haiti remains necessary for now. However, we support the reconfiguration of resources set out in the consolidation plan for 2013-2016, and are encouraged to see that the withdrawal of military peacekeepers has not been detrimental to the security situation in the areas that have been vacated. We support the recommendation to continue, as the situation allows, a balanced withdrawal of troops. We also welcome the Secretary-General’s decision to explore the option of a transition to a smaller, more focused assistance mission by 2016, and look forward to hearing more about his proposal. Any significant change to the Mission’s configuration should come with credible benchmarks to ensure that the Haitian Government has the support and capacity to shoulder increasing responsibility. The United Nations presence in Haiti must adapt to the changing circumstances and challenges. Challenges will continue, but will be increasingly related to governance and economic development. The nature of the United Nations presence should adjust accordingly, shifting the balance from peacekeeping to development assistance. The Secretary-General’s report and its recommendations provide a good basis for that transition. MINUSTAH has made some progress over the past 12 months, and we thank all those who have contributed. Looking forward, efforts should focus on further improving the security situation and helping to break the political deadlock, building the conditions for stability, development and growth. MINUSTAH must ensure that the burden of progress is shared with the Government and other partners, and, where appropriate, transferred to them. In June, the United Kingdom opened its first Embassy in Port-au-Prince since 1966, a visible symbol to the Government of Haiti of British support for it on the road to the stability and prosperity that it and its people sorely need and deserve.

At the outset, I would like to welcome you here and thank you for presiding over the Council this morning, Mr. President. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome to New York the new Ambassador of China and to wish him every success in carrying out his duties. I would first like to once again congratulate Ms. Sandra Honoré on her appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and to reiterate my country’s full support for her in her new job. I would also like to thank her for her presentation of the semi-annual report (S/2013/493) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). My statement will focus on the political, security and humanitarian aspects of the current situation in Haiti. The political situation remains worrying, due to the recurring difficulties encountered by the Haitian political class in finding solutions to institutional problems and in working steadfastly to improve their country’s governance. Indeed, we are sorry to see that due to various differences, there have been delays in organizing the senatorial, municipal and local elections, despite the political agreement on 19 April that established the transitional Electoral Council and despite the willingness of all Haitian political stakeholders to see the elections held before the end of 2013. It is crucial that those elections, which have been delayed for two years, be held this year in order to ensure political stability, prevent any dysfunction of the country’s institutions and put legitimately elected representatives in charge of the State. In that regard, we welcome the establishment of the joint Government- MINUSTAH-United Nations task force responsible for speeding up the preparation and organization of the elections. We hope that it will bring a speedy end to the delays in approving the electoral law, which is an crucial component of the electoral machine. In that regard, we note that, as Ms. Honoré said, President Martelly brought such an electoral law before Parliament yesterday. In the area of security, Togo is pleased with the general calm and stability in Haiti. There is no question that the security sector is the most concrete example not only of the country’s progress with reconstruction and stabilization but in particular of the effectiveness that local populations have the right to expect from the cooperation between MINUSTAH and the Haitian authorities. As the report indicates, political acts of violence have visibly decreased, as has the percentage of crimes such as murders, rapes and kidnappings. That continuing improvement in the security climate has been made possible by the continued efforts of Haitian leaders, in cooperation with MINUSTAH, to strengthen, train and equip Haitian National Police personnel. Regular police operations, alone or in cooperation with MINUSTAH units, have enabled them to break up many gangs, prevent their criminal activity and substantially reduce criminality and insecurity in the country. Togo urges the Haitian authorities to continue to expand the police force throughout the country and to strengthen its operational capacity. We also call on Haiti’s partners to continue to support it in making up the deficit in financing the 2012-2016 development plan for the National Police and enabling it to achieve all the goals of the plan, particularly increasing the number of police officers over the next two years. Concerning the humanitarian situation, Togo notes that significant progress has been made, especially in resettling displaced persons and with regard to sanitation measures. As the Secretary-General’s report indicates, thanks to financial contributions from the international community, more than 34,000 internally displaced persons have been resettled and 33 sites closed. Such significant efforts, however, are counterbalanced by the need for aid, which remains huge. The gradual withdrawal of humanitarian agencies is making living conditions in the camps  — where a large number of internally displaced people are still housed  — increasingly precarious. Togo is also concerned about the cases of famine and malnutrition, which have been exacerbated in part because of the vagaries of the climate. On top of that, the persisting cases of cholera in weather particularly conducive to its spread leads to fears of a resurgence of the epidemic if the appropriate measures are not taken to suppress it, particularly in the area of water treatment and sanitation. My country urges the international community to continue to stand by the Haitian authorities in order to help them eradicate that scourge once and for all. Togo believes that, despite the problems presented by political misunderstandings and the threats due to unstable weather and the cholera epidemic, Haiti’s overall situation continues to improve, due to the joint efforts of the Haitian Government, MINUSTAH and other international organizations, which have helped to gradually establish encouraging conditions for security, stability and macro-economic performance. I would like to conclude by commending the major role that MINUSTAH continues to play in Haiti through its involvement in programmes of reconstruction, the maintenance of security and building the rule of law. One of the Mission’s most remarkable efforts has been in protecting vulnerable groups, particularly through its fight against sexual and gender-based violence and impunity for serious human-rights violations. We support MINUSTAH’s announced restructuring and urge the Haitian authorities to continue to take on the process of restoring and developing their country so that the Mission’s disengagement will not weaken the Haitian State.

We welcome your participation in presiding over the Security Council at today’s meeting, Sir, thereby demonstrating the importance of the situation in Haiti for the Latin American region. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Sandra Honoré on her appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and to wish her every success in her work. We have recently seen signs of stabilization in Haiti, and the country’s authorities have made significant efforts, including in implementing the Government’s programmes for improving jobs, education, the environment, energy and the rule of law, as well as with projects for improving the country’s investment climate. We welcome the efforts of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to guarantee security and provide assistance in the country’s reconstruction, in accordance with its mandate as laid down by the Security Council. It would be difficult to overestimate the Mission’s long-term contribution to improving the situation in Haiti. That said, in principle we support the Secretary-General’s proposal for the need to gradually draw down MINUSTAH. At the same time, any reconfiguration must be approached carefully, as reaffirmed by the Secretary-General in his most recent report (S/2013/493), with regard to the real possibility of new security risks developing during the electoral period. That must be taken into account. In discussing the possible reconfiguration of the Mission we must be primarily guided by the actual situation in the country. It is unfortunate that the political process in Haiti remains unsustainable and that the ongoing high level of political rhetoric has prevented the resolution of the conflicts between the executive branch and the Parliament. The holding of partial senatorial and local elections by the end of the year remains an ongoing question, therefore a matter of continuing concern. My delegation hopes that the Government will continue its effort to establish a national dialogue and to hold elections this year. One of MINUSTAH’s most important tasks is to train the Haitian National Police. We are satisfied that the effort is moving forward according to plan and that the crime situation is gradually improving. MINUSTAH must continue to provide support to Haiti to improve governance and respect for the rule of law, with the aim of Haiti’s national forces finally guaranteeing the country’s security. The socioeconomic and humanitarian situation remains challenging. In that regard, the increased active engagement of United Nations agencies, programmes and peacekeeping architecture and coordination among donors aimed at rebuilding the country is important. It is of concern that, despite broad international effort, cholera has not yet been eradicated and the number of cases remains high. In that respect, we note MINUSTAH’s effort to combat the illness. My country fully supports the proposals of the Secretary-General to consolidate the Mission and its transformation into a smaller mission with a narrower mandate. In that context, we await with interest his ideas in his next report. Nevertheless, such a proposal must be approached only in the presence of sufficiently stable country conditions. To achieve that, all conflict among the national authorities must cease. The establishment of viable and fully staffed Government and national security entities must be completed and the situation of internally displaced persons, and the humanitarian situation in general, must be markedly improved. The current situation in the country demonstrates that the Haitian authorities and the international community, led by the United Nations, still face many complex tasks. A leading role in addressing those tasks must be played by the Government of Haiti, which bears the responsibility to use the international community’s assistance effectively and to participate in coordinating the assistance.

At the outset, let me join the others in welcoming to the Council Ms. Sandra Honoré, Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I thank Ms. Honoré for her comprehensive briefing. First, it is encouraging to note that the overall security situation in Haiti has steadily improved. Stability, although fragile, has gradually taken root in Haitian society, thanks to the resilient efforts of the Haitian people themselves and the dedication of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Notably important progress has been made in police capacity-building. Its performance has been improved and training of the Haitian National Police has proceeded as planned. While international support is still needed to ensure the successful completion of the important task of police capacity-building, we believe that the recent developments provided fresh impetus to the Mission to move forward in its conditions-based consolidation plan. On the political process, however, my delegation is deeply concerned over the ongoing political stalemate, including continuing delays in senatorial, municipal and local elections. Particularly, further delay in senatorial elections threatens dysfunction of the Senate and, by extension, the National Assembly, thereby creating an institutional vacuum in the legislative branch. Such a setback could not only erode confidence in the political system, but could undermine the valuable progress achieved so far. It is something we cannot afford. We once again urge that fair, inclusive and transparent elections be held before the end of the year. To that end, we hope that political leaders will demonstrate their firm determination to reach the necessary agreement and compromise as soon as possible. Continued attention is needed in terms of the humanitarian situation in Haiti. While the establishment of the interministerial commission on human rights was a positive step forward, the situation on the ground has not kept pace with expectations. Sexual violence and gender-based crimes persist. Perpetrators often go unpunished. Even more disturbing is the fact that more than half of the crimes committed against minors relate to sexual violence. We raise an urgent call for a strengthened police and judicial response to sexual violence. In that regard, we express our strong support for MINUSTAH’s efforts to raise awareness on those issues through workshops and police training programmes. Finally, on MINUSTAH, it should be noted that the political landscape surrounding MINUSTAH has evolved since the Mission was deployed, in 2004. The recent developments, such as police capacity improvement, an improved security situation and overall stability, demand the reconfiguration of MINUSTAH in its nature and scope. In that regard, we appreciate that MINUSTAH’s consolidation plan has proceeded without disruption or setback. We support the recommendation of the Secretary-General for a 15 per cent reduction in the Mission’s uniformed strength. However, we believe that the adjustment process should proceed with great prudence and in response to developments on the ground. We also support the extension of the Mission’s mandate for another year. In conclusion, we appreciate the dynamism provided by the Special Representative to the Mission during this crucial period. We assure the Special Representative of our strong support in undertaking her important responsibilities.

We are grateful to the Argentine delegation for organizing this debate on a topic of such importance to our region. We value your personal participation in the meeting, Mr. President. We also appreciate the presence of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ambassador Sandra Honoré. We wish her every success in her endeavour and have no doubt that she will continue the excellent performance of her predecessors. We also thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2013/493), which forms the basis of today’s debate. And we extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues, namely, Ambassador Denis Regis of Haiti and Ambassador Liu Jieyi of China. In the current phase of evolution of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), we find encouraging indicators, as well as risks that could destabilize the real, but fragile, progress made in Haiti. That is why, in order to maintain the positive momentum, Haiti must continue occupying a privileged place on the international agenda, including that of the Council. More specifically, I would like to first refer to the holding of local, municipal and legislative elections. On 28 January, the Council underscored the importance of Haiti holding elections before the end of the year. Meeting that commitment in a timely manner is of fundamental importance for both the democratization process and stabilization process, both of which are central elements in MINUSTAH’s mandate. Although some steps have been taken towards holding the elections, including that taken yesterday by President Martelly by submitting a draft electoral law to Parliament, those measures appear to be insufficient. There is a delay of almost 18 months, and we still do not have a precise timeline on the horizon. That is extremely worrying, since it relates to fundamental aspects of the Haitian constitutional system. Preserving the integrity of the electoral process is crucial for the legitimacy of the Government, the future stability of Haiti and the development of Haitian society. For those reasons, we trust that the electoral framework will promptly be approved. Secondly, we continue to believe that it is necessary to define a governance pact that will foster a climate that is conducive for transparent, democratic and participatory management of public affairs. Without an understanding among Haitians that puts a true national accord into place, it is difficult to imagine that the present political impasse can be overcome. Thirdly, I wish to refer to the reform of the Haitian National Police (HNP), which tends to be the main criterion against which MINUSTAH’s performance is measured. Maintaining the operational capacities of the HNP is certainly essential to developing the institutions necessary for strengthening the rule of law. However, the professionalization of the police force is not enough by itself. The judicial system also needs to be strengthened. We acknowledge that some promising steps in that regard have been taken. Fourthly, the upcoming mandate renewal is a unique opportunity to carefully consider the priorities and critical tasks of the Mission. We continue to examine the consolidation plan of MINUSTAH and reiterate that the Mission’s evolution must be flexible and adapted to the realities on the ground. From the report of the Secretary General (S/2013/493), we gather that the Mission has considerable work from now until 2016, including the task of fulfilling specific targets related to the capacity of the Haitian National Police and the preparation for presidential elections. While the current consolidation plan remains in place and while we have no certainty as to the logistical requirements for the elections, we trust that any further reduction in the capacity of the forces assigned to the Mission would be based on objective criteria, and that such a reduction would be applied in a gradual and progressive manner. Fifthly, the level of security personnel has remained relatively stable since 2004, now that the abrupt increase provoked after the earthquake has drawn down. That is an explicit acknowledgment by the Security Council that long-term stability can be achieved only if individual rights are protected and collective threats to more vulnerable populations are eliminated. Experience has shown us that the United Nations must maintain an adequate level of presence in Haiti, both through MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team. Our withdrawal from the country must therefore be responsible to ensure that, when that time comes, the Mission will never have to return. At the same time, it should be recalled that the crux of the instability problems facing Haiti does not have a military solution alone. We must seek out the root causes of instability, poverty, unemployment and social inequality. For that reason, we believe that the socioeconomic dimension cannot be overlooked. The Government of Haiti, both the executive and the legislative branches, as well as the international community, must all demonstrate that they have the political will and ability to combat extreme poverty and to improve the socioeconomic conditions prevailing in Haiti. As we can observe, the architecture of the international support has changed. It now reflects the transition from a crisis phase to that of fashioning the institutional mechanisms that allow for the assistance provided for development to be adapted to Haiti’s national priorities. In the humanitarian context, it is correct to acknowledge that, after long delays, today almost 82 per cent of the 1.5 million persons displaced after the earthquake have returned to their homes or have been relocated. The situation of those displaced by the catastrophe three years ago needs to be regularized. With the oncoming hurricane season, the situation is of particular importance and we need to support the 2013 humanitarian action plan. Now and in the future, we face challenges in the maintenance of peace and security in Haiti in order to guarantee the continuity of an irreversible stabilization process. Guatemala is honoured to have been part of MINUSTAH since its inception. We will remain committed to both Haiti and to the United Nations peacekeeping operation as long as it is deemed necessary. We hope that by acting jointly we can give back to Haiti the future that Haitians deserve.

The Chinese delegation welcomes the Defence Minister of Argentina, Mr. Rossi, to the Council to preside over today’s meeting. I thank you, Sir, and other colleagues for the words of welcome extended to me. I look forward to close cooperation with all colleagues in the future in our joint efforts to advance the work of the Security Council. China also thanks Special Representative of the Secretary-General Honoré for her briefing on the situation in Haiti. The Haitian situation has continued to register good progress. The Government has been making vigorous efforts in implementing policies on employment, education, the environment, energy and the rule of law, as well as in enhancing its capacity-building. Remarkable progress has been achieved in reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake. China welcomes those developments. At the same time Haiti still faces challenges in its political process, economic development and the humanitarian situation. Peaceful reconstruction remains an arduous task that requires the continuing support and assistance of the international community. I would like to focus on the following three points. First, I should like to refer to the continuation of the consolidation of a democratic stabilization process in Haiti. We hope that all the relevant Haitian parties will put the interests of the nation and the people first, enhance their dialogue and political consultations, achieve proper solutions of disputes, promptly reach consensus on senatorial and local Government elections and further promote the Haitian democratic process and political reconciliation. Secondly, MINUSTAH should to continue to advance the economic development and reconstruction of Haiti. We call on the international community to effectively honour its pledges of aid to Haiti and be constructively engaged in the country’s national reconstruction. The cholera situation in Haiti remains grim. China supports the Secretary-General’s initiative, announced in February, to eradicate cholera in the country. We call on Member States to continue to provide resources and technical support in that regard. Thirdly, MINUSTAH should continue to play the important role of the United Nations in Haiti. China appreciates the efforts and contributions by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Honoré and MINUSTAH for the maintenance of peace and stability in Haiti. We welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendation on a continued reconfiguration of MINUSTAH and the extension of its mandate for an additional year. China hopes that MINUSTAH will continue to implement Security Council mandates, help maintain security and stability in Haiti, promote the political process and strengthen the rule of law and the capacity-building of Government institutions. In that reconfiguration process, MINUSTAH would be well advised to extensively heed the views of all sides and proceed in a steady manner.

I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Honoré, for her statement. The Argentine Minister of Defence’s presence in the Council shows the importance that the Argentine presidency attaches to the issue of Haiti. France would like to associate itself with the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union, as well as the statement to be made by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti. I shall focus my statement on two topics, which are at the heart of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), namely, the preparations for the elections and the reform of the Haitian National Police. We are of course concerned by the cumulative delays in the organization of the electoral process, and we welcome the establishment, on 19 April, of the transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council. We regret that this measure, which was expected since the end of last year, has remained for such a long time without any further action due to a lack of an electoral law and constructive political dialogue. Democracy is fuelled by elections, and those elections, under the terms of the press statement that the Security Council adopted on 28 January, must be free, inclusive and credible. The elections must also be carried out in line with an electoral time line that is clear and stable. The regularity of elections of course is a sign of the health of a democracy. Partial legislative and local elections have been delayed for too long, while other deadlines are soon approaching. It is therefore essential that the elections are held immediately. We note with appreciation the information provided by the Secretary-General on the strengthening of the Haitian National Police. The reduction in certain criminal acts and the presence of the police on an increasingly larger territory in Haiti can be taken as positive signs. We also note the quality of cooperation between the Haitian National Police force and the police component of MINUSTAH. We noted, and I think it is very encouraging, that there is a lack of increase in violence in departments where the military component of MINUSTAH has withdrawn. Of course, much remains to be done. The national development plan for the Haitian National Police foresees an increase from 10,000 to 15,000 officers by 2016, while the report of the Secretary-General underscores the difficulties that jeopardize the achievement of the goals of that plan. MINUSTAH must therefore remain committed in the collective effort to contribute to maintaining public order, but also contribute to the national ownership of the major instrument of the rule of law that a professional police force represents. With regard to the rule of law, we welcome the signing of the decree that created the interministerial commission on human rights in Haiti, on 13 May. However, we remain as troubled others are by the persistent elements that call into question the independence and effective functioning of the justice system. In the area of human rights, we encourage the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH to integrate the advice and assistance supplied by the independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council. We support the commitment of the United Nations and the personal efforts of the Secretary-General to assist Haiti in eradicating cholera. We consider it to be an attainable goal, and we encourage as a priority targeted interventions to be taken at active infection sites, as well as better coordination between epidemiological services and field activities. It is also necessary to pursue a sustainable policy for access to water and sanitation. The consolidation of MINUSTAH continues according to the plan agreed by the international community and the Haitian Government. The Mission should continue to adapt to the evolving situation, both in scope and in quality. We favourably welcome the recommendation of the Secretary-General to renew the mandate of the Mission, while pursuing its reduction by 15 per cent through a reduction of the military personnel, specifically the engineering contingents, in order to enable the development of a local entrepreneurial fabric. We also urge — and this is a phrase that the Council has often heard in this debate  — the preservation of the capacity of the Blue Helmets to communicate with the population in French. Finally, we note with satisfaction the prospect that was suggested by the Secretary-General to undertake important consideration of the post-2016 period. The transformation of MINUSTAH must not be taboo; its possibility should be a catalyst. We must create the conditions for its success in the framework of a credible time line. And we must consider the presence of the United Nations after that deadline. I would like to conclude by again commending the staff of MINUSTAH for their dedication and the Special Representative for her dynamic action in the Mission’s transitional period. I would also like to pay tribute to Mr. Nigel Fisher for the work that he carried out as interim Special Representative of the Secretary- General.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Argentina. On behalf of the Government of Argentina, I wish to welcome the appointment of Ambassador Sandra Honoré, while also highlighting the fact that she is the first woman to be appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I again reaffirm the commitment and the firm will of Argentina to support the people of Haiti. The cooperation of our country has always adapted to the needs stated by the Government of Haiti and the real challenges on the ground in that country. The presence of Argentina is characterized by strong emphasis on the consolidation of Haitian institutions, respect for human rights and the people’s full enjoyment of democracy. That commitment is based on several pillars, but essentially on a vision of South-South cooperation through a considerable effort in human and financial terms in more than 200 projects, which are not based on assistance and which have as a central focus the development of capacity among Haitians themselves. It is only in that way that we can ensure true sustainability to support the development of our brother country. In that context, we mention as an example the market garden programme Pro Huerta, which has meant investment in technical assessment and agricultural supplies, both of which essentially make it possible for Haitians to generate their own productive capacity. That does not mean that we are neglecting essential emergency needs. We have demonstrated that in actions such as support for the national programme for school canteens, in response to the specific needs of Haitian authorities for food donations, while at the same time cooperating with the project itself. Argentina’s commitment is also reflected in the broader context of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which has resolved to continue making efforts to cooperate with the Government of Haiti. I wish to highlight the activities of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which committed funds to rehabilitate the public hospital in Corail, in the southernmost area of Haiti. That hospital bears the name of President Néstor Kirchner, the first Secretary- General of UNASUR. Measuring more than 1,200 square metres, it was inaugurated in June 2013. Together with coordination efforts for health care between the Governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti, this initiative resulted in the repair and expansion of the community hospital. We believe that it is essential to respond to the social and economic development needs of the Haitian people and to strengthen institutions in that country. We note with satisfaction, therefore, new signs of progress in Haiti, thanks to the efforts of its Government, international assistance and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, in particular the establishment of the transitional Electoral Council. The decision taken yesterday by the President of Haiti to send to the legislature an electoral time line was auspicious. We are convinced that, with functioning institutions that can ensure democracy, Haiti’s problems would be resolved faster. There should be no reduction in the number of democratic institutions for the Haitian people. A reduction in the number of displaced people living in camps, after the relocation of more than 34,000 people, has brought about an 82 per cent decline in internally displaced persons between 2010 and 2013. However, we are concerned about the decline in international assistance and lapses in basic services, especially drinking water, which is crucial in order to overcome the spread of cholera. On efforts by the Haitian Government to promote development and institutional stability, especially the “five Es” programme, we would like to point to the establishment of institutions linked to the rule of law, especially programmes to strengthen justice, municipal administration and civic participation. I would like also to highlight positive developments in the judiciary with reference to several long-standing cases of severe violations of human rights. There has been progress in the strategic development plan in accordance with the priorities for economic and social development established by the Government of the Republic of Haiti. Haiti has also played a remarkable role as the temporary chair of the Caribbean Community and Common Market. We appeal for the continued efforts of Haitian political actors to reach consensus, which could lead to the long-postponed elections, thereby overcoming the political impasse. During this period, the security situation has shown relative stability, with some clear indications of a drop in crime rates. From that point of view, we can highlight that MINUSTAH has reached its objective of creating a secure and stable environment, but it remains to be seen if that will be sustainable. The Haitian National Police has shown significant progress, both in the number and training of cadets. We applaud the fact that, by November, the Haitian police force will be over 11,200 strong. However, we stress the need to be cautious when subcontracting civilian personnel to fulfil security roles. In such cases, the responsibility of ensuring competence always lies with the State. As a result, the efforts of countries that are members of the Mission should from now on be focused on specific actions aimed at developing a training programme for Haitian security forces, thereby strengthening the Haitian National Police, which is key when it comes to the process of genuinely reducing the number of personnel in MINUSTAH. A gradual and orderly transfer of the responsibility for ensuring security to the Haitian authorities must be achieved. Continuing with the current trend of progress in security and gradually strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police are complex variables on which compliance with the guidelines established by the Mission consolidation plan depend to a great degree. If the conditions of those two variables are not met, we run the risk of a vicious cycle, which could extend the presence of MINUSTAH, with a further risk of the situation deteriorating. Argentina supports the continued presence of MINUSTAH, as long as it is required by local authorities and is justified by the prevailing security situation and the requirements for reconstruction. For that reason, we wish to highlight that our country supports the Mission consolidation plan for 2013-2016, and we share the objectives to reduce MINUSTAH forces in accordance with the proposal in the plan, based on improvements in capacity-building among the police, the development of electoral capacity, the rule of law, human rights and good governance. In that sense, we understand that all missions need to have time tables and dates, but a day on a calendar does not always represent the whole day. A day on a calendar is just a number on the calendar. Bearing in mind that it might be cloudy, or there are chances of storms or rain, let such days serve as a warning, The forecast for the day might be rain, showers or even storms, but that forecast might also be sunny, with clear skies. We believe and are convinced that MINUSTAH should not only set a date but also a forecast and that forecast should be one when the sun starts coming out for the entire people of Haiti, a sun that represents hope, ensures sustainable development, harmonious development with respect for institutions, economic development and the full and legitimate enjoyment of democracy. Beyond our bilateral commitment towards Haiti and the efforts Argentina is promoting through regional organizations such as UNASUR, I wish to remind everyone that our commitment is also demonstrated by the presence of more than 572 personnel, 38 of whom are women. Since 2004, when MINUSTAH was established, Argentina, through its armed forces, has mobilized more than 12,000 personnel who have been present in various contingents within Haiti. In that military component, we wish to highlight the existence of the field hospital, which is a resource for health care and hospital assistance for the entire United Nations contingent, and highly valued by the entire mission. Lastly, I wish to conclude by highlighting Argentina’s interest in continuing to participate in the efforts of the international community in the interest of peace and security. In that context, I wish to highlight a particular commitment we naturally have in our region of Latin America and the Caribbean. For us, Haiti is part of our region. My presence here today is intended to demonstrate the special interest we, as Argentina, have in the region, with all of our mechanisms of integration. I hope that Haiti will find its path as an autonomous nation, one in which it can deploy its full potential. We are doubly committed to the United Nations through the Security Council because of what the Stabilization Mission means, and we are also committed as Latin American brethren. To conclude, I wish to briefly refer to something I believe is important when it comes to the spirit that should guide us through this mission in Haiti. Fifty years ago today, not far from here, in Washington, D.C., on 28 August 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave that memorable speech where he spoke about his dream. “I have a dream” are the words he used. To conclude, I would like to read a very short part of that speech. “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

I would like, first of all, to extend my warmest congratulations, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Haiti, to the Ambassador of Argentina, Her Excellency Mrs. María Cristina Perceval, who is presiding over the Security Council for the month of August. I would like to reiterate the profound gratitude of the authorities of my country and myself for taking the initiative to convene today’s debate on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) on the eve of the expiration of its mandate, as provided for in resolution 2070 (2012), of 12 October 2012. My Government expresses its sincere appreciation to the Secretary-General for his balanced and detailed report (S/2013/493), which touches upon many aspects of the political, economic, financial, health and security situation in Haiti. The Haitian Government supports the observations and recommendations contained in the report, in particular the extension of MINUSTAH’s mandate for another year. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ms. Sandra Honoré, for the high quality of her briefing and the relevance of her comments. I extend to her my best wishes for success as she takes on her mission in Haiti. The Haitian delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the members of the Security Council whose comments and expressed concerns strongly coincide with the views and concerns of President Michel Joseph Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Salvador Lamothe and the entire Government. I would also like to thank the members of the Security Council for their moderation, their reserve and the sense of proportion that they have shown in assessing the facts and events in my country. I have the privilege today to make the following comments before the Security Council, which is playing such an essential and indispensable role in the future of our world, and before Ambassadors who embody the mind to such a high degree and who contribute unceasingly and with talent to the standing of the Organization and the pursuit of its noble objectives. The Republic of Haiti, as is well known, is experiencing a very particular time which is undoubtedly decisive in its history. It seeks to strengthen its democratic institutions, while working relentlessly after so many lost decades to re-establish growth and finally commit to a path where the economy takes off and development is sustainable. Directly in line with its efforts to strengthen and see to the good functioning of the Republic’s institutions, the President solemnly invited, on 14 August, the transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council to take all necessary measures in order to organize partial senatorial and local elections no later than December 2013. Yesterday, Tuesday, the executive power, through the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, submitted the draft electoral law governing the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. Over the past two years, significant advances and notable and indisputable progress, underscored almost unanimously by observers in good faith and by the Secretary-General in his report, have been made in all areas — institutional, socioeconomic, cultural and security. However, the task is immense, the challenges are great and the obstacles are formidable. That is why we attach a particular value to understanding, solidarity and cooperation with the international community, and primarily the United Nations. In addition, while welcoming the fact that Haiti, in the view of the Security Council, no longer constitutes a threat or a danger to international peace and security in the region, we believe that it is necessary to launch and deepen consideration of the post-MINUSTAH period with responsible partners through discussions that are calm and without preconceptions. As has been emphasized in the Secretary-General’s report, voices are being raised in the country to call into question the presence of MINUSTAH. It would be desirable that all possible scenarios for disengagement be considered in order to avoid a repetition of history. The historic and unique ties that exist between Haiti and the United Nations are more relevant than ever. Haiti is an original member of the Organization which, from the very first cooperation mission of the Economic and Social Council pursuant to resolution 51 (IV), of 26 March 1947, has brought unceasing support to us in our development efforts. In that regard, Haiti can be proud to have a special and unique relationship with the United Nations. The time has therefore come to work to expand and redefine, as is clearly necessary, that cooperation, which of course has proven itself, so that it can be given a new impetus and a new dynamism and so that it can be better able to meet the needs of the times and more coherent with respect to national priorities. In that regard, I am certain that I can count on the nobility of the Council’s views and its attachment to the Republic of Haiti, whose stability, development and progress it has always particularly valued. I would like to convey to the Council the willingness of the Haitian Government, in solidarity with the ideals, principles and objectives defined by the Charter of the United Nations, to work tirelessly with the Council for international peace and security, development and the promotion and protection of human rights and political, economic, social and cultural rights. In that regard, in addition to ongoing efforts in the country to build the rule of law, which is inseparable from promoting respect for differences despite disagreements, the Government of Haiti has reached a new milestone in its commitment to the pre-eminent dignity of the human person. On 16 August, here at the United Nations, Haiti signed the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 1984. In that spirit, the Government of Haiti will continue to support the efforts of the Organization and the personal efforts of its representatives and staff to promote human rights in all their dimensions, which is a very real exercise in universal solidarity, tolerance and respect for cultural identities. These are all values ​ that have never been more relevant to and necessary for the building of a national and international order that is more just, more human and more fraternal, an order to which humankind has aspired since 1945. I welcome the report of the Secretary-General, which is balanced and, overall, in line with the previous report (S/2013/139). It reports the facts, highlights the efforts of the Haitian authorities to strengthen political, economic and security governance and lists the existing limits and shortcomings in terms of what remains to be done. I reiterate, on behalf of my country and its Government, my faith in the many United Nations initiatives, both in Haiti and elsewhere, to resolve and overcome conflict, reduce poverty, promote development and bring people together.

I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guatemala, Peru, the United States and my country, Uruguay. I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President and Minister of Defence of the Argentine Republic, and your delegation for holding this debate to discuss the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/493) 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, Ms. Sandra Honoré, and thanks her for her comprehensive briefing and her intensive work during her few first months in Haiti. The Group of Friends notes the progress achieved in Haiti since the previous reporting period in key areas for Haiti’s development such as employment, education, the environment, energy and the rule of law, which are the Government’s five policy priorities, known as the “five Es”. The Group also notes with satisfaction that, during the reporting period, the levels of civil unrest and major crimes, in particular homicides and kidnappings, have decreased. The significant decrease in the number of people displaced by the 2010 earthquake is another encouraging trend. However, the Group would like to underscore the fact that Haiti continues to face significant humanitarian challenges, especially with respect to women and children, with over 279,000 internally displaced persons still dependent on humanitarian assistance for their basic survival and extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. The ongoing cholera epidemic is a major concern for the Group of Friends. In that regard, we highlight the importance of redoubling the efforts by the United Nations and the broader international community to assist the Haitian Government in preventing and treating the disease and to achieve crucial structural improvements in Haiti’s water and sanitation sector. To that end, it is urgent and critical to fund the national plan for the elimination of cholera in a sustainable manner and to seize any opportunity to reduce the threat posed by that disease by means of targeted actions. On the political front, the Group of Friends notes the establishment of the transitional Electoral Council, an important step towards the holding of the long-overdue partial legislative, municipal and local elections. The Group notes, however, that preparations for the elections are still experiencing significant delays, including the pending approval of the electoral law. The Group calls on the Haitian Government and all the relevant stakeholders to redouble their efforts to allow those elections to take place in 2013 in a transparent, fair and credible manner, which will strengthen democratic institutions. With regard tp the differing interpretations of when the term of the second of the three groups of senators will expire, it is important that all political stakeholders in Haiti work cooperatively and constructively towards a resolution of that matter. The Group of Friends notes that the overall security situation in Haiti remained relatively stable during the reporting period. That has allowed MINUSTAH to continue its drawdown in accordance with its conditions- based consolidation plan without undermining the security and stability of Haiti. The Group of Friends of Haiti recognizes MINUSTAH’s critical role in ensuring stability and security in Haiti and commends MINUSTAH for continuing to assist the Government of Haiti in ensuring a secure and stable environment. The Group of Friends notes the commitment by the Government of Haiti to strengthen the rule of law and to make further progress in security sector reform. In that respect, the Group would like to highlight the critical role of the Haitian National Police (HNP) in Haiti’s security and stability, and to stress the importance of completing the ongoing strengthening, professionalization and reform of the Haitian National Police so that it can assume full responsibility for Haiti’s security. In that regard, the Group notes the progress made in the implementation of the five-year Haitian National Police development plan 2012-2016 and reiterates the importance of maintaining support for the plan. The Group of Friends of Haiti believes that security, development and stability are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing. We therefore underscore the need to address the issues of unemployment, education, the delivery of basic social services and ensuring women’s economic and political empowerment. 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 by strengthening Haitian institutions, including an independent judiciary, and reaffirms MINUSTAH’s responsibility for supporting the Haitian State in the areas of democratic governance, the expansion of the State’s authority and the promotion and protection of human rights, in accordance with its mandate. The Group of Friends of Haiti reiterates the importance of respecting the zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse. It expects all United Nations personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct and urges all the actors involved to make every effort and to shoulder their responsibilities in order to prevent cases of misconduct, investigate allegations and hold those responsible to account. Finally, I would like to emphasize that the Group of Friends will exhaustively consider the recommendations in the report in the next few days with the aim of making a substantive and constructive contribution to the discussions in the Security Council on MINUSTAH’s mandate, so that the Mission can continue to discharge its responsibilities and consolidate its presence. The Group of Friends of Haiti would like to express its support and gratitude to the women and men of MINUSTAH for their dedication and tireless efforts in supporting the goals of recovery and stability in Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

It is an honour to have His Excellency Mr. Agustín Rossi, Minister of Defence of the Argentine Republic, presiding over today’s debate on a matter that is so important to our region and our countries. I would also like to welcome Special Representative Sandra Honoré and thank her for her presentation. Brazil would like to reiterate its wishes for her success in all her endeavours. And I appreciate the contribution of the Permanent Representative of Haiti, Ambassador Regis. Today Haiti has an opportunity to consolidate stability, to continue to pursue a number of initiatives aimed at creating jobs, generating income and promoting investment, and to strengthen its institutions. Its efforts to establish an enhanced platform for coordinating international cooperation, to allocate budgetary resources to cover part of the costs of pending elections, as well as its social programmes aimed at combating poverty, are promising indications, among others, of significant progress. We encourage our Haitian partners to continue on that path towards development with social justice. We also reiterate our call to all friends of Haiti to commit the resources necessary to help Haiti invest in key development projects, including infrastructure. Brazil is doing its part. We continue to cooperate with the Haitian authorities in searching for partners willing to complement the $40 million we have provided for the construction of the Artibonite hydropower plant, which would truly help to transform the country. Unfortunately, not enough support from Governments and international financial organizations has been secured so far. Development is not a purely economic concept. It is also a political one, since development both benefits from and strengthens democracy. In the case of Haiti today, it is of paramount importance that all political actors and parties engage constructively in a genuine political dialogue in order to uphold democratic consolidation, institution-building, national ownership, human rights and the rule of law. Consolidating democracy in Haiti is as crucial to its future as are investment and infrastructure, agriculture and industry, health and education. The Security Council has called for pending legislative and local elections to be held this year. Brazil hopes that elections can be conducted as soon as possible; otherwise Haiti runs the risk of having its Parliament reduced to only a third of the current number of seats, which could severely impair the political role of the legislative branch, breaking the functional symmetry of the three branches of Government. We are confident that concrete steps are being taken in that direction and urge all Haitian political actors to promote inclusive dialogue to expedite the preparations. President Martelly’s leadership is key to the process. Brazil stands ready to support the democratic process in Haiti and has already delivered on its pledge for support for the upcoming electoral cycle. Progress in the security situation continues to be the main pillar of the consolidation plan of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We welcome the enhanced recruitment to the Haitian National Police, the ongoing vetting process and the increased joint operations between the Haitian National Police and MINUSTAH. It is crucial that the Haitian National Police absorb best practices and lessons from MINUSTAH’s experience and benefit from the Mission’s ability to provide conditions adequate to a successful handover of security responsibilities in critical areas. We concur with the gradual, carefully planned reduction of troop levels proposed by the Secretary- General, attuned to the realities on the ground. The Secretary-General is also right about the need to assess, beyond the 2016 horizon, whether MINUSTAH remains the most suitable configuration for the United Nations presence in Haiti. Ensuring a balanced and holistic consolidation strategy for MINUSTAH is critical to Haiti’s long-term stability. As the Mission reduces its military footprint, development assistance, from both the United Nations and other actors, should be scaled up. It is crucial to underline that need at this juncture in the life of MINUSTAH because very often as troops depart, development and humanitarian actors and resources follow suit. We must not repeat that grave error in Haiti. A future United Nations presence in Haiti should be able to reverse that trend and should be based on the broad consensus being developed in the Council on the relationships between security and development, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and sustainable peace and sound transitions, as set out in resolution 2086 (2013). MINUSTAH’s experience has demonstrated the potential of innovative approaches when combined with the well-established structure of a multidimensional peacekeeping operation. Tools such as quick-impact projects and military engineers play a crucial role in supporting core stabilization objectives. In that regard, we welcome the broadened scope for community violence reduction projects in support of initiatives promoting the rule of law in Haiti. The successful experience of legal aid offices supported through community violence reduction projects in Haiti, which are responsible for freeing hundreds from pre-trial detention, demonstrates the wide-ranging potential of such programmes, including from a human rights perspective. We hope that all of those experiences and best practices, rather than short-term financial considerations, will form the basis of our evaluation of future options next year. The contribution of the United Nations in Haiti and that of the international community will be judged by its legacy. We remain committed to the objective of ensuring that the stability gains secured so far are sustainable. In other words, we must get this transition right. A close working relationship between the Mission and its counterparts in the Government is key to avoiding substantial gaps in critical areas, especially in security. As we have stated in the past, the consolidation plan must be owned by the Haitian leadership as a platform for taking over their primary responsibilities in a sustainable manner. Let me conclude by reaffirming Brazil’s long-term commitment and solidarity with Haiti, and also our confidence in the Haitian people’s determination to persevere and succeed in their quest for independence, stability, democracy and prosperity.

I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

I thank the Secretary-General for his report on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (S/2013/493) and his recommendation that the international community continue to support to that fraternal country. I also appreciate the briefing by Ms. Sandra Honoré on the situation on the ground in Haiti, which is clearly of great importance to the Council. As the report indicates, the situation in Haiti has made encouraging progress in the area of security and strengthening the rule of law. It is clear that MINUSTAH has played a key role in achieving that progress. In close coordination with the Government, the Mission has supported the institution-building of the Haitian National Police, in order that it may eventually ensure security in the country. The Mission also has promoted projects to assist stabilization, dealing with important matters such as the protection of vulnerable groups, community violence reduction and the prevention of gender-based violence. Mexico recognizes the will of the Haitian Government to make progress in those fundamental areas in order to strengthen democracy and to lay a firm foundation to foster economic development and improve the situation of those who remain in the camps for internally displaced persons. It is necessary to redouble efforts in order that those initiatives may produce tangible dividends for Haitian society. In that sense, there is concern that a possible postponement of partial elections could produce and exacerbate political tensions and hinder further progress on priority issues. It is clear that MINUSTAH and the international community are prepared to support the electoral process and the priority initiatives defined by Haiti’s legislative authorities, who have the final word in such matters. I note that Mexico provides support to Haiti through its electoral institutions, which help to strengthen institutions and professionalize and enhance the country’s electoral system. On 4 July, Mexico’s Federal Electoral Institute and Electoral Tribunal signed a cooperation agreement with Haiti’s permanent Electoral Council concerning electoral systems, voter registration, organization and logistics, the development of democratic political culture and electoral voter education — which are all essential. Along with the United Nations involvement in promoting the democratic process, my delegation emphasizes and reiterates the importance of the relevance and presence of the Organization in Haiti in promoting economic recovery strategies and medium  — and long-term projects to meet ongoing needs in terms of humanitarian assistance, health, food security and infrastructure. In that regard, we support continuation of quick-impact projects as well as the involvement of MINUSTAH and the country team in vital areas such as education, food and agriculture, which, if not addressed, can lead to instability in the long run. The report of the Secretary-General indicates progress in implementing MINUSTAH’s consolidation plan for 2013-2016, and suggests further reconfiguration of the Mission, in view of a possible transition to a different United Nations presence in Haiti. For the transition to be successful, such evaluation must be supported by both the institutional factors reflected in the proposed indicators, as well as the actual conditions prevailing on the ground. It is important not to neglect unpredictable factors such as natural disasters, which can trigger a loss of life and infrastructure, with attendant social, political and economic consequences. We also wish to emphasize the intrinsic link between development, security and human rights as a fundamental element in implementing measures to ensure the restoration of stability and harmony in the country. Mexico considers essential the sustained presence of MINUSTAH to consolidate the progress made and to continue to support the Haitian Government in addressing pending challenges. In that regard, the Mexican Government reiterates its full support to the Haitian Government. Mexico reiterates its full support for the Mission and highlights the contributions of its men and women to improve the situation in Haiti. My delegation also highlights the efforts of the Haitian Government and reaffirms its strong commitment to strengthening its institutions through medium and long-term projects. We hope that the Mission’s consolidation plan will result in a successful transition process leading to the eventual departure of MINUSTAH, once we have reached the goals of stability and development in Haiti and achieved the long-term goals. The challenges of the immediate future are arduous; only international solidarity will help to overcome them. We reiterate our commitment to that end so that the efforts of the Organization and, above all, those made by the Haitian people over decades, will be rewarded by democratic stability and the country’s long-awaited development.

I now give the floor to Mr. Ioannis Vrailas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

I speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. The candidate countries of Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia; Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates; as well as Ukraine and Armenia, align themselves with this statement. At the outset, let me first commend the outgoing interim Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Nigel Fisher, and thank him for his excellent cooperation with the European Union and its member States throughout the various positions that he has held in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Honoré on her appointment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSTAH, and to wish her every success in carrying out her mandate. The European Union shares the analysis of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2013/493) concerning the political situation in Haiti. While we can recognize a relative stabilization of the political context in the past 12 months, the situation nevertheless remains fragile and is characterized by an uncooperative attitude among the various institutional sectors, while the enormous challenges Haiti still faces require a broad national consensus. The European Union fully shares the concerns of the Secretary-General regarding the significant delays that have accumulated in the electoral process vis-à-vis the possibility of holding the next elections before the end of 2013. The consolidation of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti, as well as progress in the process of reconstruction and economic recovery, require strong democratic institutions that are able to operate according to the constitutional rules. The European Union encourages regularly in its high-level political contacts with all parties concerned to adopt a cooperative and responsible approach. It is essential that the institutions concerned accelerate the legislative and preparatory work to allow the elections to be held as soon as possible. For its part, the European Union contributes €4 million to the “basket fund” managed by United Nations Development Programme to organize the upcoming elections, and it has released an additional €2 million to support the capacity- building of the future Permanent Electoral Council. Delays in reforming the justice sector are another source of concern. In the observations contained in the conclusion of hit latest report, the Secretary-General refers, inter alia, to the need to end the prevailing climate of impunity. The European Union welcomes the positive results achieved by MINUSTAH in several areas of its mandate, in particular with regard to advancing the programme for strengthening the Haitian National Police, significantly reducing crime as a result of increased joint patrols with the Haitian National Police, efforts to mitigate the most serious deficiencies in the penal system, and improving the capacity of interim municipal councils. The European Union also notes progress in the implementation of the four key objectives in the fields of security, elections, the rule of law and governance, related to the gradual reconfiguration of MINUSTAH. It seems essential that Haiti’s international partners continue to coordinate their efforts to support the achievement of those objectives, with a view towards achieve the normalization of the political and security situation, as well as strengthening governance and the rule of law. The European Union welcomes the progressive reduction in the number of internally displaced persons still living in camps. The European Union is nevertheless particularly concerned about the fate of thousands of vulnerable families who are facing forced evictions and who have no solution for decent housing, a situation that puts them at risk of abuse. In a context where many humanitarian assistance organizations have decided to cease operations in Haiti, despite the persistence of significant need, the European Union continues to provide indispensable humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons and victims of natural disasters, while supporting resettlement in dignified and decent conditions. With its humanitarian assistance, the European Union also continues to support the fight against cholera, which has become endemic with peak periods during the rainy season. With regard to development assistance, the European Union, together with its members States, is currently planning cooperation with Haiti for the period 2014-2020. Haiti should benefit from a volume of assistance at least equal to that of the previous period, which confirms our ongoing commitment to continue to work alongside Haiti. Among other things, the European Union is contemplating supporting the reform programme of public Administration announced by the Prime Minister in November 2012, including aspects related to reform of the security sector. The rule of law, presented in the report of the Secretary-General as fundamental to the advancement of the country, and food security, mentioned as one of the major humanitarian concerns, should also be subject of our assistance. Negotiations with the Government on the areas of intervention and our future cooperation will take place this fall. Advances in the area of democratic institutions will not be sufficient to ensure stability and security in Haiti while the current socioeconomic conditions persist. Haiti is one of the most unequal countries in the world, and extreme poverty affects most of the population. If the data does not change, the security situation will remain highly volatile. In conclusion, the European Union shares the recommendations of the Secretary-General for a progressive reconfiguration of MINUSTAH. However, that process must balance the momentum of the progress that seems to be taking place in Haiti and the continuing fragility of its institutions, in order to avoid the significant advances in recent years being undermined. The Haitian authorities must continue to implement reforms to consolidate security and democratic stabilization related to the progressive transfer of powers from MINUSTAH. The next test of that effort will be the holding of the electoral process that has been delayed for nearly two years. The European Union and its member States will continue to be fully committed to support the Haitian authorities in accomplishing that goal.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for presiding over this important debate. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Sandra Honoré on assuming the post of Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and I would like to thank her for her comprehensive briefing today as well as her significant contribution to the Mission. I also pay tribute to the men and women of MINUSTAH for the commitment and fortitude they have demonstrated under difficult circumstances. I welcome the Secretary-General’s report on MINUSTAH issued on 19 August (S/2013/493). As the report mentions, we are very pleased to note that Haiti has made progress. The Government of Haiti established a transitional Electoral Council on 19 April and has been advancing President Martelly’s Administration’s “five Es” policy of employment, education, the environment, energy and the establishment of the rule of law. With regard to the recovery process, since the earthquake in 2010, more than 10 million cubic metres of debris, which amounts to almost 80 per cent of the total debris, has been removed. And the number of internally displaced persons has been reduced by 82 per cent, according to the Secretary-General’s report. In recognition of that change on the ground, Japan withdrew its ground Self-Defence Force’s engineering unit in Haiti last December. The number of personnel who have served in the Japanese contingent since 2010 totals approximately 2,200. In that regard, Japan welcomes the MINUSTAH consolidation plan referred to in the previous report (S/2013/139)of the Secretary- General and the fact that the plan has been progressing in cooperation with the Government of Haiti. Haiti certainly continues to face many challenges. As the Secretary-General’s report points out, continued delays in the implementation of long-overdue elections and strained relations between the executive and legislative branches of the Government risk thwarting progress in the stabilization process. Japan welcomes the fact that Haiti established its transitional Electoral Council in April, but more work will be needed for the Government to carry out its next elections in a peaceful and democratic manner. Basic infrastructure in the country remains fragile. In addition to the earthquake in 2010, Hurricane Sandy last October brought significant damage to the country. Although the international community responded right after the hurricane, Haiti still needs to improve its basic infrastructure, including roads, electricity and potable water, as well as social services, including access to education and medicine. High unemployment also remains a big concern. To respond to those important needs, the Government of Japan has already disbursed more than $150 million, exceeding the $100 million pledged in the New York conference in 2010. Even after the withdrawal of its Ground Self-Defense Force’s engineering unit, Japan intends to continue supporting and cooperating with Haiti. When the engineering unit left Haiti, Japan donated engineering equipment to the Haitian Government and contributed to human resources development in the country through the sharing of its expertise in the use of that equipment. Japan also currently supports strengthening the capacity of national authorities in the areas of debris management and the operation of engineering equipment. The Government of Japan will continue to provide support to Haiti as it restores or establishes basic social services, mainly in the fields of health, hygiene and education. As you are aware, Mr. President, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck our country in March 2011, about a year after the significant earthquake that hit Haiti. Like Haiti, Japan is a country where natural disasters occur frequently; that is why Japan firmly intends to continue collaborating with Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Canada.

I would like first to thank you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Argentina for having organized this debate on Haiti. I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Sandra Honoré, for her briefing and to assure her of Canada’s continued support to her and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Canada has shared a partnership with Haiti for decades and is one of the most generous donors to Haiti. Since 2006, Canada has provided Haiti with more than $1 billion in support to Haitian development priorities, in particular with respect to economic growth, food security and maternal and child health, through Canada’s commitments undertaken in the framework of the Group of Eight’s Muskoka initiative. Canada has also provided substantial humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate needs of the Haitian population after the 2010 earthquake. In March of this year, we responded to the 2013 consolidated appeal to help provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, addressing immediate needs in emergency food assistance, health services, water provision, sanitation and cholera prevention. Meanwhile, our development assistance continues to help women and children gain access to health facilities and enjoy a better quality of life. Their well-being is essential to the successful development of key Haitian institutions. Those are the kinds of results we want to continue seeing in Haiti. Through our stabilization and reconstruction task force, the Government of Canada has contributed to Haiti’s ongoing security sector reform by focusing on increasing the capacity of the Haitian National Police (HNP). We have done so by rebuilding or refurbishing police commissariats and by providing equipment and training to HNP officers. Those contributions help empower Haitians to provide for their own needs in security. For Canada, Haiti remains a priority in the Americas and worldwide. That is why Canada’s new Minister of International Development, Mr. Christian Paradis, chose Haiti for his first official visit, thus demonstrating Canada’s commitment to Haiti. Minister Paradis arrived on Monday in Port-au-Prince and leaves today, having had a number of successful and informative meetings and discussions in the country. He met with Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and other Government officials, as well as some of the Haitian people who are benefitting from Canada’s development assistance. He witnessed the impacts that natural disasters have had and the humanitarian needs that continue to challenge Haiti. He also witnessed the strength of the Haitian people and the resolve of their Government to move towards greater stability and long-term development. During his visit, Minister Paradis reiterated his wish that Haiti assume strong leadership and accountability for its own development. He also announced that Canada stood ready to support the Government of Haiti in better coordinating the non-governmental organizations, donors and partners currently operating in the country through Haiti’s new development coordination mechanism. (spoke in English) Minister Paradis’ visit, as well as the visit of our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Baird, earlier this year, reflects our interest in the future of Haiti. Those visits have also helped to inform the review we are presently conducting of our long-term engagement in Haiti. We are looking forward to completing that review so that we can maximize our investments to support accountable and sustainable results for the Haitian people, especially those most in need. Haiti has made broad-based economic development, including through trade and investment, a top priority. Canada welcomes the spirit of those efforts and strongly encourages actions that lead to further gains in transparent governance, economic development and sustainable job creation. Initiatives in the Haitian tourism sector have shown what can be achieved when the Government and the private sector work together. Accountability, economic competitiveness and diversification are essential to achieving poverty reduction and increased revenue generation for the Government. We encourage continued action in improving the business environment, which can transform Haiti’s economic potential into concrete outcomes for the Haitian people. For Haiti to succeed on the path of development in accordance with its own objectives and plans, it is necessary to have a supportive environment and, in particular, institutional and political stability. In that context, we note with concern that the long overdue senatorial, municipal and local elections prescribed by the Constitution still have not taken place, despite repeated calls by Haitian political actors and members of the Security Council that they be held this year. Moreover, such delays significantly disrupt the normal operations of Haiti’s Parliament, and therefore the country’s governing institutions. It is critical for all political actors to spare no effort to carry out the elections in a free and transparent manner as soon as possible. Entering yet another phase of political and institutional instability would undermine the development and security gains made by Haiti thus far and compromise further progress. Canada urges all political actors to work together to find the path towards a transparent and continued operation of key institutions of democratic governance and to ensure political stability. In that context, the submission by the President of the draft electoral law to Parliament yesterday is a welcome development. (spoke in French) Canada continues to support the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and thanks MINUSTAH for its contribution and all its efforts to bring stability to Haiti. With respect to the evolution of the MINUSTAH force, it is important not to sacrifice the security gains made thus far on the security front and that the decisions taken in this area be based on the situation on the ground and the capacity of the Haitian State to guarantee security for its population. Canada was pleased to note the progress made by the Haitian National Police in recent years as it assumes increasing responsibility for security for the Haitian people. We thank MINUSTAH for its support to Haiti’s security institutions and encourage the Mission to build upon the progress achieved thus far. We also appreciate the relevant efforts of the Haitian Government and strongly urge it to continue to implement the police development plan. The rule of law and a professional and capable police force are critical for Haiti’s security and its future. I can assure you, Mr. President, that Canada will continue to support Haiti in that regard.

I now give the floor to the representative of Peru.

At the outset, allow me to welcome the initiative by your presidency of the Security Council, Sir, to convene a debate on the situation in Haiti. We also welcome the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ms. Sandra Honoré, and we are grateful for the briefing on the report of the Secretary General (S/2013/493) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We would like to extend a special greeting and our congratulations to the Argentine presidency of the Council and welcome your presence at this meeting in particular, Mr. Agustín Rossi, Minister of Defence of the Argentine Republic. Peru is committed to achieving and consolidating security, stability, sustainable development and institutional strengthening in Haiti. That is why my country has actively participated in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti since 2004, with a military contingent consisting of 366 troops, including female staff in the field, and military officers among the chiefs of staff of the Mission. Peru is also a member of the Group of Friends of Haiti, the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, the Group of Friends of Haiti of the Organization of American States and the Latin American mechanism on political coordination on Haiti. On that basis, my delegation would like to align itself with the statement made by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, in particular the recognition that the work carried out by MINUSTAH has been crucial to achieving significant progress in Haiti’s stabilization and security and in terms of strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country. We also believe that this work continues to be essential to providing the Haitian authorities with the security and support needed to facilitate the process of democratic consolidation. Peru recognizes the importance of the appointment of the members of the transitional Electoral Council as an important advance towards realizing the long- postponed partial legislative, municipal and local elections. However, we are concerned that the failure to hold the elections in the short term may create a climate of political instability and a lack of governance in Haiti. Therefore, while recognizing the Haitian people’s democratic aspirations and emphasizing the importance of democratic stability in the countries of our region, my delegation calls on all political forces in Haiti to reach the necessary agreements to enable the timely holding of the elections, which will strengthen the functioning of key institutions for democratic governance in Haiti. While the security situation in Haiti remains relatively stable, owing mainly to the crucial work of MINUSTAH, we must note that there have been massive protests in Haiti, mainly related to socioeconomic problems such as food insecurity and a lack of basic services. That serves to remind us that the United Nations system should promote even greater cooperation in the three areas that have a direct impact on the ongoing process of recovery and reconstruction in Haiti, namely, governance, security and sustainable development. In reiterating our appreciation for the work of MINUSTAH in ensuring stability and security in Haiti, we would like to express our satisfaction with the progress made in the institutionalization, professionalism and strengthening of the Haitian National Police as part of its five-year development plan for 2012-2016. That will enable that institution to have the troops necessary to maintain public order and ensure the security of the population throughout the country. In turn, that will allow for a solid institutional framework that promotes the strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights. The progress made by MINUSTAH in stabilizing Haiti over the past few years allows us to look towards the future with optimism. We therefore believe that the time is coming to start a gradual and orderly transition to a second phase of cooperation by the United Nations system on Haiti. In that respect, we welcome the plan for the reconfiguration and consolidation of MINUSTAH, which is aimed at consolidating the gains achieved thus far and laying the foundations for a long-term development plan. The plan contains useful parameters and indicators to measure the progress achieved by the Government of Haiti in areas that are crucial to safety and the institutional and democratic strengthening of the country. My delegation believes that a future reduction in MINUSTAH staff, or even a change in the nature of the Mission, should only be decided upon after a serious evaluation of the progress made in the field in terms of the parameters and indicators set out in the MINUSTAH reconfiguration and consolidation plan. We are aware of the importance of peacekeeping missions having exit strategies in the medium term. However, we believe that such strategies should be flexible enough to reflect the realities on the ground. In conclusion, it is my duty to stress that MINUSTAH’s significant achievements to date should not give us the false impression that the work of the United Nations in Haiti is finished, or even close to it. Experience has shown the serious consequences suffered in some countries when the Organization has decided to withdraw its presence from the field too soon. We therefore call on States Members of the Organization and the entire international community to maintain their continued and ongoing support for the people and Government of Haiti.

I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

We congratulate and express our gratitude to the delegation of Argentina for having organized this debate and providing us with a new opportunity to consider the situation in Haiti, in particular through the most recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/493) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which we of course also welcome. We welcome the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ms.Sandra Honoré, and wish her success in her work leading the assistance efforts in that Caribbean nation and helping the Haitian authorities in strengthening democracy and promoting long-term development. My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti. We reiterate our commitment made in February 2004 to the stabilization and peacebuilding process in Haiti and the work of MINUSTAH in favour of the security, stability, institution-building and development of Haiti and its people. In that regard, we also welcome the participation of new countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in MINUSTAH by contributing either troops or police contingents. That allows us to express our ongoing regional commitment towards Haiti. We recognize the progress made in the security and humanitarian spheres in the period covered in the latest report of the Secretary-General. In particular, we want to stress the closure of 33 sites for displaced persons and the relocation of 34,000 Haitians. However, significant challenges remain to which the Haitian authorities must respond with the support of the international community. We also highlight the institutional progress made in some areas  — for example, in the area of human rights and, specifically, with regard to the establishment of the interministerial commission on human rights. However, much remains to be done. For my delegation, security, stability and development are interrelated elements. The latest report of the Secretary-General once again makes it clear that MINUSTAH remains essential to achieving those objectives. In that regard, the consolidation plan for MINUSTAH must be implemented bearing in mind the needs identified in the field, and with a view to the future that makes it possible to strengthen institutional capacity in Haiti under the principle of national ownership, such that the Haitian people will gradually take over the various responsibilities. In that regard, on the understanding that the priority is to strengthen the rule of law and improve the political environment in Haiti, especially with regard to the electoral sphere, we encourage the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to continue working so that the Haitian authorities will respond to the ongoing institutional processes through a political dialogue and social inclusion, the best path to the desired end. On that front, we urgently call for the partial senatorial, municipal and local elections to take place in a fair, credible and transparent manner as quickly as possible. In that sense, the adoption and promotion of the draft electoral law that was submitted to Parliament yesterday seems to us to be of the greatest urgency. The recent report of the Secretary-General notes a stable, but fragile, situation where the process of training police continues to be a priority. In that regard, while reiterating that this process must take place in a democratic framework with respect for human rights, we also highlight the efforts of MINUSTAH and local authorities to comply with the strategic development plan for the Haitian National Police, as well as the progress made in that area. Chile reaffirms that it will continue to cooperate on a bilateral basis in the area of ​ police training, as it has done in recent years. We call on the Haitian authorities and the international community to continue to support and fund those efforts. My delegation reiterates the importance of MINUSTAH’s role in the protection of vulnerable groups, especially with regard to sexual and gender- based violence. We also stress once again the need for these elements to be dealt with appropriately by the local authorities. We also support the Mission’s zero- tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse. We also highlight our concern with regard to the prevention and treatment of the cholera epidemic, and we stress the importance of supporting the Secretary-General’s initiative in favour of the national plan for the elimination of cholera. We also urge donors to fund the programme. We also wish to highlight the role played by MINUSTAH through its battalions of engineers in the so-called quick-impact projects and its programmes to reduce community violence.

I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

I would like to start by congratulating the Argentine presidency for its initiative to hold a debate on the situation in Haiti, an issue accorded the greatest importance by my country. I also wish to acknowledge your presence here in New York, Sir, to preside over the debate, an effort that, as you said in your statement, demonstrates Argentina’s support for Haiti, the same support that the entire Latin American and Caribbean community gives to Haiti. I welcome the new Permanent Representative of Haiti, Mr. Denis Regis, and extend to him our full cooperation. I also congratulate and thank Ms. Sandra Honoré for the report she has presented to the Council (S/2013/493). I would also like to associate myself with the statement made by the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti. When we see the progress in Haiti, we note that the country is moving along the right path, although a lot of issues and challenges in different spheres need to be addressed. The consolidation of the physical and political reconstruction of the country will depend upon institutional stability, the strengthening of the State and the increased entrenchment of democracy in Haiti. We therefore respectfully call on the Government and all political institutions to guarantee the holding of partial local and legislative elections. Haiti cannot backtrack on its process of political and institutional stabilization. Colombia takes this opportunity to welcome Ambassador Sandra Honoré, whose excellent credentials make her an outstanding person for the work being conducted in Haiti, especially at this defining moment for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We wish her much success in her role and reiterate to her our full support. Our country supports the recommendations of the Secretary-General, in particular with regard to the extension of the Mission’s mandate until October 2014. We also support the initiative for the Mission’s possible downsizing in the near future, with a focus on a gradual and orderly transfer of responsibilities that serves to strengthen institutions and security in Haiti. We welcome the establishment of the joint task force between the Government and the Mission, a mechanism for establishing criteria and determining the best timing and ways to transfer responsibilities. The Government of Colombia has emphasized that the solution of the problems in Haiti must come from the Haitians themselves. As their friends, we must contribute to that process. We have therefore focused on strengthening national capacity. My Government has supported MINUSTAH since September 2006. We currently have a police contingent in Haiti that includes experts in various areas, including community policing and the fight against drugs and transnational organized crime. On the bilateral level, with the cooperation of the Government of the United States, Colombia has trained 100 personnel in specific areas such as extortion and kidnapping, sniffer dog handlers in the detection of illicit substances, criminal intelligence and strategic analysis and management. The Government of Colombia, in accordance with appeals by the Security Council to increase the role of women in peacekeeping, is training 10 women from the Haitian National Police as part of a year- long programme whose curriculum includes learning Spanish. The programme will continue to grow in order to fulfil two objectives, namely, training staff to ensure that the Haitian National Police can continue to assume responsibility for the country’s security and providing better tools for confronting security challenges from a gender perspective. I should like to point out that, at this very moment, the MINUSTAH Police Commissioner, Mr. Luis Carrilho, and the Director-General of the Haitian National Police, General Godson Orelus, are on a visit to Colombia’s national police to gain field experience on good practices and lessons learned from Colombia’s programme on strengthening institutions that could be adapted for the work being done by the Haitian National Police. It is important to mention that Colombia is also developing an agenda for bilateral cooperation with Haiti that includes projects such as strengthening the coffee production chain, which aims to establish a sustainable and inclusive value chain that increases the income of small producers, strengthens the cooperative system and increases the export of good quality coffee; developing processes for integrated solid waste management, which began the implementation of a solid-waste plant in the Cabaret area; contributions towards recovery and strengthening food security and nutrition, in response to a request by the national food security coordinator in Haiti; strengthening Haiti’s national vocational training institute by way of our national job training service model workshop, including developing a cooperative initiative to strengthen the institute; and, lastly, a community, neighbourhood and housing recovery initiative that aims to contribute to the organizational plan carried out by Haiti, mainly in Port-au-Prince. Colombia reiterates its commitment to fully supporting Haiti and to the process of strengthening its institutions and promoting development.

I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.

I very much appreciate the Argentine presidency’s inviation for Spain to participate in this bi-annual debate on the situation in Haiti. I see that as an acknowledgment of my country’s commitment to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and to strengthening institutions and the socioeconomic development of Haiti. I welcome the presence among us, for the first time, of the new Special Representative of the Secretary- General in Haiti and Head of MINUSTAH, Ms. Sandra Honoré. I wish her every success in her new. important and difficult role. I would like to welcome the Ambassador of Haiti, Mr. Denis Regis, and I wish him all the best in his new and important role. The Secretary-General has submitted a detailed report (S/2013/493), which has already been referred to and which I value and appreciate a great deal. Spain shares the concern reflected in the report as to the stagnation in the political situation in Haiti and the apparent deadlock in the holding of the partial legislative and municipal elections that are supposed to take place before the end of the year. Like MINUSTAH and the rest of the international community in Haiti, we call on representatives of the executive and legislative branches of Haiti to reach an agreement on this matter in the coming weeks. If they manage to do so, it would be an expression of mutual goodwill and a sense of statehood as reflected specifically in progress towards the formation of a transitional Electoral Council. Spain welcomes the progress in the area of security made by Haiti throughout 2013. Given that positive development, Spain reaffirms its commitment to the current security model in Haiti, which relies on MINUSTAH staff for the maintenance of a safe and stable environment throughout the country, as well as with police forces to meet tasks associated with prosecuting crime. However, we agree that MINUSTAH should be looking to reconfigure gradually, eventually reducing its number of troops with missions focusing on assisting civilian populations over the medium-term, especially during emergencies. We very much look forward to a report to that effect, due to be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Security Council in March 2014. At the same time, the Haitian National Police should continue to be strengthened so that it can assume the functions turned over to it by MINUSTAH. In terms of human rights, we encourage the Government of Haiti to move forward with its commitment to ratify various United Nations Conventions on the matter, and to take measures for the fulfilment of recommendations made to Haiti in the context of the latest universal periodic review carried out in Geneva. In particular, Spain is concerned about sexual and gender-based violence, with alarming figures in Haiti made worse by frequent impunity for such crimes. In the field of development cooperation, Spain reiterates its commitment to Haiti. My country is one of the major donors in Haiti, with our cooperation especially focused on access to safe drinking water, the education sector, rural development and the fight against malnutrition. We believe that the cooperation of all stakeholders with the coordination mechanism for external support put in place by the Government of Haiti in late 2012 is very important to the efficiency and transparency of aid. We want to increase the number of Spanish businesses in Haiti, which are clearly still insufficient. We forecast that foreign investment will be a key instrument to promote socioeconomic development in the country. To that end, it is necessary to ensure legal certainty for foreign investment, strengthen Haitian institutions such as the investment facilitation centre, and implement agreements pertaining to the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments. Both from a development cooperation and investment point of view, it is essential to maintain political stability, over which some doubts currently exist. For that, the role and work of MINUSTAH is indispensable. Therefore, we reiterate our strong support and commitment to the renewal of the mandate of MINUSTAH and its presence in Haiti over the coming years. Spain of course associates itself with the statement delivered by the Deputy Head of the delegation of the European Union. In conclusion, as Argentina’s presidency comes to an end this month of August, I am pleased to have this opportunity to congratulate you, Sir, and your country for your active and successful role during this period.

I now give the floor to the representative of Trinidad and Tobago.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 States members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM wishes to commend Argentina, our sister Member State in the Group of Latin Americas and Caribbean States, for its outstanding work as President of the Security Council during the month of August. We are also heartened by the decision of the Secretary- General to appoint one of our nationals, Ambassador Sandra Honoré, as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We express our deepest confidence in her ability to oversee the work of the United Nations system in Haiti, working along with Haitian authorities to discharge the mandate of the Mission. At the same time, CARICOM acknowledges the work of former acting Deputy Special Representative for Haiti, Mr. Nigel Fisher, for his valuable contribution to MINUSTAH and the development of Haiti. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2013/493) provides useful information on the progress of the efforts of the United Nations to bring lasting peace and stability to Haiti through its Mission. For us in CARICOM, Haiti’s stability and economic development are inextricably linked to the wider development agenda of our subregion. CARICOM consequently lauds MINUSTAH’s efforts, which have promoted increased stability in Haiti. We also welcome the decision of the Security Council, as expressed in resolution 2070 (2012), to renew MINUSTAH’s mandate until 15 October 2013, and we support the Secretary-General’s recommendation that it be further extended until 2014. CARICOM also welcomes plans for encouraging investment, which will play a critical role in spurring Haiti’s social and economic development. Nevertheless, we submit that international assistance must be aligned with Haiti’s national priorities, so as to ensure that there is appropriate national ownership of programmes intended to benefit the Haitian people. We also applaud the strides made by the Haitian Government in reaching certain political milestones that are indicative of progress. We remain optimistic that the forward momentum achieved thus far will be sustained and that all parties involved in the political process will be able to rise above the differences that exist between them and, in the spirit of compromise, work together to put in place the machinery for holding the overdue partial senatorial, municipal and local elections. CARICOM notes the progress made in upholding the rule of law in Haiti, as exemplified in the Government’s “five Es” policy programme, which lists the rule of law as one of its pillars. We are heartened by the reductions in civil unrest, homicides and kidnappings, as well as the fact that the political and security situation in the country has remained relatively stable, with a notable decrease in major crimes. We are encouraged by the appearance in court in February of two former presidents. We view that as positive signals of an emerging trend towards stability and evidence of the increasing acceptance of the judicial process, which is an indispensable ingredient in the maintenance of the rule of law. We are further encouraged that the performance of the Haitian National Police has continued to improve since it assumed increasing responsibility for the provision of internal security. We note, however, that the targets of the National Police development plan require continued commitment on the part of the Government and Haiti’s partners in order to ensure that adequate resources are available to support the plan’s viability. There have been a number of other positive developments in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010 and the further destruction following Hurricane Sandy last year. They include the establishment of an interministerial commission on human rights, the resettlement of a number of formerly displaced persons and efforts to address the cholera epidemic, including those undertaken in line with the Secretary-General’s initiative for supporting national plans in that area. The efforts made by Haitian authorities to promote socioeconomic development, including strides made by President Martelly to attract foreign direct investment, are also noteworthy. CARICOM remains, however, gravely concerned about the declining international aid for sustaining the work of rehabilitation in Haiti. That situation is worrying in the midst of hurricane season, when Haiti is vulnerable to the effects of devastating storms. We therefore urge all parties with contributions outstanding to pay them in order to ensure the timely execution of the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping missions, whose work is crucial to fostering peace, security, stability, the protection of human rights and the promotion of development in the States concerned. While progress has been made in several areas, Haiti continues to experience a political, social and economic crisis, and, with that in view, the discussion at hand should not be whether MINUSTAH should conclude its operations but should, rather, focus on addressing the changes required in Haiti and the Mission to ensure that a phased withdrawal is linked to stronger institutions and underpinned by progress towards lasting stability. In conclusion, CARICOM remains committed to working together with other partners in the international community in support of the agenda of the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH’s efforts in that regard, in order to facilitate lasting stability and the social and economic development of Haiti.

I now give the floor to Ms. Sandra Honoré to respond to the comments made. Ms. Honoré: I would first like to join other speakers in welcoming the initiative of Argentina during its presidency of the Security Council in placing on the Council’s agenda the question concerning Haiti and the attendant consideration of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2013/493) on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). I deeply appreciate the support expressed for the work of my predecessors in the post of Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for the work of the military, police and civilian personnel, including United Nations volunteers, as well as the support expressed for the efforts of the United Nations country team in Haiti, as we continue to assist the Government of Haiti in ensuring an environment of stability and security. I have also noted the support expressed by members of the Council and other Member States for the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the mandate of the Mission be extended by an additional year. Careful note has been taken of the concerns, recommendations and timely advice to the Mission on critical aspects of its work with the Government of Haiti, in keeping with the conditions-based consolidation plan 2013-2016 submitted by the Secretary-General in March in the core areas of police development, electoral capacity-building, the rule of law and key governance issues, including the promotion of a dialogue on a minimum political consensus regarding elections, the legislative agenda and the strengthening of State institutions. The progress that has been highlighted by speakers today in those core areas and the benchmarks yet to be attained are vital to the creation of a framework that will contribute to attaining the socioeconomic goals outlined by the Administration of President Martelly n his Government’s plans, in particular the “five Es” priorities of education, employment, energy, the environment and the rule of law. I have also noted the comments on the challenges and systemic deficiencies facing Haiti and on the support that MINUSTAH and the United Nations country teams should provide in the humanitarian field and in efforts of a social-developmental-stabilizing nature, such as the reduction of community violence and quick-impact projects. The Council should rest assured that members’ entreaties that the Mission, in its work on human rights, pay particular attention to the rights of women and children have been noted and will continue to inform our work. I indicated earlier that the stakeholders in Haiti have all expressed support for dialogue as a means of arriving at an understanding on strengthening the pillars of democratic governance in the country. I cannot overemphasize the importance of such an all-inclusive process in order to overcome the impasse and create a framework in which the efforts of the Government and society can be concentrated with serenity on the country’s pressing socioeconomic development requirements. MINUSTAH will continue to support all good-faith efforts in that direction and appreciates the Security Council’s continued support for it, as well as all the other mandated tasks.

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