On June 3rd, 2025, during the 11th edition of Tuesdays for the Nation, Patrick Delatour, Minister of Culture, presented a report on his recent official mission to France.

This mission, of vital diplomatic importance, aimed in particular to initiate discussions with UNESCO regarding Haiti's accession to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The Minister also provided an update on the progress of issues related to the implementation of international conventions ratified by Haiti. He also explored prospects for cooperation with various institutional and cultural partners, as well as members of the Haitian diaspora in France.

Welcomed by the Permanent Delegation of Haiti to UNESCO and Louino Volcy, Haitian Ambassador to France, Minister Delatour addressed crucial issues facing the nation with clarity and responsibility, including the security situation, the constitutional process, and the upcoming elections.

The Minister, accompanied by Dwoling Achille, Technical Director of the National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN), sounded the alarm about the continued destruction of the nation's built heritage. He denounced the arson attack on the Milot chapel, the vandalism of the historic Bel-Air district, and the alarming degradation of the Belot and Furcy sites in Kenscoff. These acts, he affirmed, constitute intolerable attacks on national identity, perpetrated by forces hostile to the Republic of Haiti.

High-level discussions also took place with representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the UNESCO World Heritage Center. These discussions focused on the reassessment of the ISPAN report on the National Historical Park and the issue of National Route 3.

In a resolutely forward-looking approach, Minister Delatour held a strategic meeting with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate. This meeting laid the groundwork for the creation of a Franco-Haitian Joint Commission, whose work will begin in July 2025. This commission will aim to revitalize bilateral cooperation in key areas such as military training, maritime and coastguard capacity building, heritage protection, and cultural diplomacy.

Through this mission, the Haitian government reaffirms its commitment to defending, promoting, and restoring the cultural heritage of the Haitian people. It also commits to strengthening its strategic partnerships in the service of peace, sovereignty, and national reconstruction.

HL/ HaïtiLibre