STATEMENT BY

H.E. AMBASSADOR LE LUONG MINH,

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VIET NAM TO THE UN,

AT THE OPEN DEBATE OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON HAITI

(9 September 2009)

 

Madam President,

I would like, first of all, at this first open meeting of the Council, to extend to you and the U.S. Delegation, our warmest congratulations on your assumption of the Presidency of the Council for this month. I would also like to convey to Ambassador Sawyer and the UK Delegation our high appreciation for their leadership of the work of the Council in August.

I congratulate President William J. Clinton on his appointment as United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti and thank him for his statement. I thank Mr. Hédi Annabi, Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti for his comprehensive briefing.

I welcome and thank Prime Minister Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis of Haiti for her participation in the Council’s debate today.

Madam President,

My Delegation is pleased to note the progress achieved during the reporting period in the five benchmark areas for Haiti’s Consolidation Plan as manifested in the holding of senatorial elections, the passage of key legislation and the pursuit of an inclusive dialogue on a number of key issues facing the country. We also take a positive note of the vigorous efforts undertaken by President Préval to establish the four Commissions to consider issues of national interest which, we believe, will facilitate the implementation of the benchmarks and bring about tangible changes in the country.

In spite of these positive developments, Madam President, we remain deeply concerned about the fragility of the security environment and the lack of progress in the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in Haiti. We are troubled by reports that children continue to suffer from criminal acts, with minors reported to be victims in numerous rape cases, while child trafficking for the purpose of sexual or economic exploitation remains unsolved. The political and economic shocks coupled with severe natural disasters that hit the country in 2008 have not only worsened the already dire economic conditions, but also hindered the full implementation of the Government’s strategy. At this critical juncture, we hold that the full engagement of the Haitian leadership and people, and the execution of a sound and comprehensive socio-economic strategy which seeks to mobilize domestic resources, generate growth, create employment, reduce poverty and improve living conditions of the people are of paramount importance to Haiti. My Delegation supports the Secretary-General’s assessment that there is an urgent need to support the Haitian authorities in the implementation of targeted social and economic agendas aimed at addressing the extreme vulnerability of the country and its people, especially food insecurity which is affecting nearly two million Haitians.

Madam President,

To eensure security and stability for Haiti, the international community’s strategy for Haiti should focus on enhancing the Haitian National Police (HNP), strengthening national and local governance and the rule of law, and placing the country on the path to recovery and sustainable development. In this connection, we urge donors to fulfill the pledges made at the High-level Donor Conference hosted last April by Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. We wish to take this opportunity to express to President Clinton our high appreciation of his continuing efforts to attract foreign investment and gather international support for Haiti. We are convinced that, with his vast experience and his proactive engagement in Haiti, President Clinton, in his capacity as UN Special Envoy for Haiti, will make worthy contributions to enabling the Haitian Government to address its current political, economic, and security challenges.

Madam President,

While noting the primary responsibility of the Government and the people of Haiti over their country’s stabilization process, we commend MINUSTAH’s admirable work in helping maintain stability and re-establish security in Haiti. The continued presence of MINUSTAH remains indispensible with a view to avoiding possible setbacks or reversals in the implementation of the Consolidation Plan. We support the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend the mandate of the Mission for an additional year, until 15 October 2010. However, in view of the progress made in strengthening Haitian security forces and developing a hand-over strategy for MINUSTAH’s operational responsibilities, we share the view that it is necessary for the Mission to reconfigure its components and adjust to changing circumstances on the ground.

I thank you, Madam President!