Obtain that a stabilization mission also contributes to the development of a country like Haiti will be the central issue of the debate, on April 6 at the United Nations in New York. A proposal made by the Colombian diplomat, María Angela Holguin, in mid-February while that the next Security Council will be headed by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

Ten of the 15 Security Council seats are filled by regional groups, elected for two years (five are elected each year). The five remaining seats are for permanent members who hold veto power: the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China.

The Guatemalan Edmond Mulet, head of Mission of United Nations Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), said on Saturday that the debate will focus on the differences between a stabilization mission and a mission dedicated to the promotion of development. Stressing the need, that the Security Council "adapts the mandate of each mission" recalling that "the budgets for security and the development are well defined by the UN and that the donor member countries do not want duplication". For Mulet, the UN Security Council "must know that the conditions change from one country to another and adapt its mandates in functions [of the objectives]".

The Chief of the Mission which met in February with Colombian President to prepare the next meeting on Haiti said that "The work of the Minustah must focus in the creation of a State". Recalling that Haiti is the poorest country of the Hemisphere, he noted the lack of a cadastre which transforms any rental or purchase of lands in a long challenge before the courts, that there are no records of births and deaths, or commercial courts and that Haiti have a large labour force and 1,700 kilometres of "beautiful coasts..." he wondered, in such conditions "who with a little common sense will invest in this country ? [...] In Haiti, what people need, this is jobs and this requires investment" said the diplomat.

The Minustah in Haiti is composed of 12.300 soldiers and police officers, from more than 20 countries including the Colombia which trains the Haitians in the fight against kidnappings [among others].

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2404-haiti-reconstruction-no-to-the-transformation-of-the-minustah.html

HL/ HaitiLibre