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| Special representative for Haiti Mariano Fernan Fernández Amunátegui UN Photo/Rick Bajornas |
Washington: Haiti must focus on strengthening its rule
of law institutions, including its national police and electoral council to
consolidate the gains it has achieved in recent years, the United Nations
Security Council heard on Wednesday (3 October 2012) as it reviewed
developments in the Caribbean country.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special
Representative for Haiti, Mariano Fernández Amunátegui told the Council that
the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the international
community as a whole, recognize Haiti's right to form an armed force, but made
clear that "the creation of any type of such a force should not be in
detriment of the development, strengthening and professionalization of the
Haitian National Police."
The Forces Armées d'Haiti (FADH) were
dismantled in 1995 and there have been recent calls for their reestablishment,
most notably by a group of former FADH members who had occupied Government
buildings claiming unpaid pensions and calling for a new army.
Fernández presented the Secretary-General's
report ahead of a vote on the extension of the Mission, which is set to expire
on 15 October.
The report recommends a one year extension
of the mandate and a drawdown of forces, from 7,340 to 6,270 military personnel
and from 3,241 to 2,601 police officers.
Ambassador Susan Rice of the United States
told the Council that the "reconfiguration and consolidation of MINUSTAH's
footprint in Haiti is a delicate balancing act that we cannot afford to get
wrong."
She said the United States supports the
report's recommendations but stressed that these "must enable MINUSTAH to
continue executing its mandate effectively."
French Ambassador Gérard Araud said the
Haitian National Police "is not yet able to independently guarantee
security and stability in Haiti."
He expressed support for plans presented by
the Haitian Government for 2012 to 2015, "including the objective to go
from ten to fifteen thousand police officers."
The Secretary-General's report also praised
efforts by Haiti's new Government, headed by President Michel Martelly, to
combat corruption and smuggling, create jobs, attract foreign investment and
improve socioeconomic conditions for Haitians. However, he underscored that
much remains to be done to address other pressing issues, such as extreme
poverty and insecurity.
Outside the Council Fernández spoke about
the recent verdict by a Uruguayan Tribunal issuing prison sentences to four
peacekeepers for "private violence". They had originally been accused
of rape by a Haitian civilian.
Fernandez said "the Tribunal decided
it was nor sexual abuse but was bullying" and praised the Uruguayan Government
and court system, saying they had "behaved in an exemplary way."