YouSaid · the spoken record

Annabi

lines on the record: 845
first: 1999-12-22
most recent: 2009-09-09
sittings or episodes: 45
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Socio-economic development cannot realistically be achieved during the lifespan of a peacekeeping operation. But we must find ways to accelerate aid processes from the outset of a peace effort so as to generate what we call a peace dividend: the kind of visible results that foster public confidence and hope and reinforce the legitimacy of local authorities while laying the groundwork for future progress. Important related innovations within peacekeeping operations include the use of quick impact projects and the community violence-reduction programme in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Other positive results have been achieved through closer cooperation between peacekeepers, United Nations agencies and international financial institutions.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Other interesting experiences, including our efforts in East Timor and Kosovo, where a small corps of well-placed technical advisers remained in place after the initial transfer of administrative authority to strengthen the capacity and performance of local governing bodies. A second area where further efforts are absolutely indispensable is socio-economic development. In many post-conflict areas, including Haiti, political tensions and insecurity are compounded and fed by socio- economic privation and inequality. My current functions have reinforced my conviction that, in such areas, support for early recover, reconstruction and development constitutes an integral component of the search for peace, and that stability will be consolidated only when the local population can see a tangible improvement in their daily lives.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“In many conflict countries, the dearth of technical administrative capacity affects the society's ability to address its problems effectively or to manage its resources in a way that permits lasting stability. Bilateral and multilateral technical assistance programmes will generally remain the most appropriate means to remedy such weaknesses, but it may be necessary to complement these traditional approaches with other mechanisms to help local administrations to deliver urgently-needed services to the population in the short term while jump-starting a coherent programme of institutional reform in the long term. One experiment that may offer useful ideas for the future was the framework for international assistance that was elaborated in Liberia, known as the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Programme (GEMAP).”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Many activities that we once would have regarded as beyond our responsibility or reach have now become standard fixtures in the peacekeeping repertoire. Operations have become more active politically; they have taken on more ambitious roles in security; and above all they have engaged in institution-building, particularly in the area of the rule of law, which is now a core part of our mandate in many conflict areas. This expanded activity has helped us to meet multifaceted challenges on the ground and has represented, I believe, a wise investment. But further reflection is required to address other shortcomings. In the area of institution-building, it is important to strengthen institutions of governance beyond those concerned with the rule of law.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Member States can make a vital contribution by providing information that may assist in decision- making. They should also seek to listen with an open mind to the Secretariat's recommendations, giving them serious consideration, and should resist undue pressure to act in a way that is politically expedient but that may be fundamentally unsound. Secondly, I would like to discuss which tasks peacekeeping should undertake. Broadly, a United Nations peacekeeping operation should assume those tasks that are indispensable to cross a threshold towards lasting peace and that they are best equipped to discharge. What this means in practice has evolved rapidly over the past decade, alongside our understanding of the requirements for stability and of the capacity of peacekeeping operations.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Conflict, as we know, is extremely costly, and a swiftly deployed and appropriately mandated and equipped peacekeeping operation can provide enormous savings in the long term, even if it entails a significant short- term expense. In weighing decisions on deployment, both the Secretariat and Member States have a key role to play. The Secretariat must exercise due diligence, assessing and reassessing the situation on the ground and conveying its understanding faithfully to the Member States. Moreover, as Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi - who remains an inspiration for us all - wrote in his report of August 2000 (S/2000/809), today's international civil service must have the courage of its convictions and must tell the Security Council what it needs to know, and not merely what it wants to hear.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Even at a time of limited resources, the United Nations must remain ready to assume its responsibilities under the Charter. The world does not and will not forgive the United Nations if it is seen to stand by when it can make a difference. Peacekeeping partners can sometimes contribute, and it is sensible to share the burden when others have a comparative advantage, but at other times there may be no realistic alternative to a United Nations operation. It is essential for the standing of the United Nations that any decision on whether or not to deploy or to downsize an existing operation be based primarily on substantive concerns and not on financial considerations. Even from a financial perspective, a United Nations operation can prove to be good value.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Multinational and regional forces have also played an important complementary role in that area. These are valuable lessons, but they should not blur a core understanding that United Nations peacekeeping remains primarily a political, rather than a military instrument. Its effectiveness demands that a critical mass of those in the conflict area believe that their interests can be most effectively pursued through peaceful means rather than by violence. If this precondition does not exist, Blue Helmets should not be present. Every time we have overlooked this basic premise, we have come to regret it. While refraining from inappropriate deployments, we must also avoid the opposite peril, which is an undue hesitation to act when circumstances permit.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“How can we distinguish between those two kinds of situations and know when peacekeeping is the right solution? I believe, I am afraid, that the commonly cited formula remains valid. Peacekeeping operations can be deployed where there is a peace to keep or, at the minimum, a viable political process that a peacekeeping presence can help nurture and lead to a meaningful conclusion. Over the past decade, peacekeepers have helped to tip the balance and have overcome some opposition on the margins of a peace process. A display of strength has sometimes made its use unnecessary. We have responded vigorously to certain spoilers and shown in several theatres - including Haiti - that robust action by United Nations peacekeepers can at times deter those who seek to foster instability.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“As reflected in the non-paper, the issue of when to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping operation is one of the most difficult questions that the Council faces. Deployed appropriately, a peacekeeping operation can achieve remarkable results in a relatively short period. The people of Guatemala, El Salvador, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cambodia and East Timor - to name a few - can testify to our ability to make a difference. Each successful experience has, in turn, strengthened the standing of the United Nations and its ability to address future conflicts. But when United Nations operations are deployed in the wrong circumstances, the results can be disastrous for the population within the conflict area, for the peacekeepers themselves and, even more importantly, for the viability of the instrument of peacekeeping.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“For my part, I wish to attempt to set out the main challenges that peacekeeping faces, addressing in particular the three following questions. (spoke in English) First, when is United Nations peacekeeping the right instrument? Secondly, what tasks can United Nations peacekeeping accomplish? Thirdly, how can we help United Nations peacekeeping become more effective? I will try to highlight some areas where we need to change, together with certain principles that have been repeatedly validated over time. I hope that I may speak openly, since I am among friends who share a common vision of peacekeeping as a key dimension of United Nations activities and as a means to advance the goals of the Charter. When should United Nations peacekeeping be used?”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for giving me the honour and for kindly inviting me to participate in this important debate on United Nations peacekeeping. The informal document that you have distributed is an excellent basis for discussion and reflection, and will certainly prompt a fruitful debate. Certain aspects of the document address the internal operations of peacekeeping, which is, of course, appropriate and necessary to any discussion held at the Headquarters of our Organization. However, given the fact that I am now a man of the field, I should like to leave my colleagues at Headquarters to address those aspects. Given the responsibilities they bear, they are in a better position than I am to speak to them, and they have in fact already done so.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“If we stay the course, if we pursue a broad approach and if we all remain engaged in an effective partnership, I am convinced that we can succeed and that Haiti can emerge from its troubled past towards a better future.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Thirdly, the consolidation of stability depends on the engagement of three sets of actors: the Haitian leadership and people, which must work together to make decisions, set priorities and put them into effect; MINUSTAH and the United Nations system, which must support the implementation of those plans on the ground; and the wider international community, whose assistance and resources are indispensable to turn those plans into reality. None of us can truly deliver on our own. If we are going to be successful, we must work together and assume our respective responsibilities in a closely coordinated partnership. Notwithstanding the setbacks that have taken place and the scope of the challenges that lie ahead, this remains a time of hope for Haiti.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“If we disengage before they are completed, we run the risk of undermining everything that we have achieved. A second, related point is that progress in each of the dimensions of stability is interlinked. Political cooperation is a prerequisite for reform of the State or economic development, yet it must in turn be reinforced by enhancement of the country's institutions and improvement in the socio-economic situation. We must seek to support progress in each of those areas, which are co-dependent and mutually reinforcing. We must try to advance in all of them if we are to advance in any.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“I know that this is a difficult time globally, with enormous demands on a finite number of resources, but I would like to note that even a major reconstruction effort for Haiti would not entail a huge expenditure in global terms and could be extraordinarily good value in safeguarding the investment the Council has made to date and in pre-empting future costs associated with renewed instability and uncontrolled population movements. To conclude, I would like to close by making three more general points regarding the plans to consolidate the stabilization process in Haiti. First, as 08-54062 stressed in the Secretary-General's report, the timelines for all of these areas are subject to change. It is essential that we evaluate our progress not just by the calendar, but according to effective achievement of the objectives.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“It is vital that donors and agencies build upon the remarkable efforts they made to respond in April and again in September, and seek to lay the foundation for a substantial recovery that might make such emergency response unnecessary in the future. The convening of a long-deferred discussion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper might offer an opportunity to advance such longer-term planning and to launch its urgently needed implementation. It will also be essential that any such discussion take into account the vast extent of the damage created by the hurricanes and explore how an exceptional, large-scale effort might be launched to help Haiti recreate a basic infrastructure. Without such an effort, without a major reconstruction plan, Haiti cannot hope to truly begin the process of recovery.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Finally, it is vital that progress be made in addressing the socio-economic situation. Development is not, of course, the business of peacekeeping operations, although it is our job to create an environment conducive to economic and social development. The point I wish to stress here is that our efforts cannot and will not be successful unless there is some prospect of tangible improvement in the daily lives of the Haitian people. The factors that created asense of desperation in the spring - the rise in prices, the absence of employment, the lack of basic services - continue and have in fact been hugely exacerbated by the natural disasters that have struck the country. A poor, hungry and desperate population is simply not compatible with stability.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“With regard to the justice system, the School for Magistrates is operational once again and a small class of magistrates has begun training courses. The Conseil Superieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire, which will be the main supervisory body, is taking shape. In corrections, efforts are under way to expand prison facilities, although painfully slowly in view of the appalling state of the penitentiary system. Corrections staffing has been increased by about 50 per cent with the graduation of a class of 227 cadets, the first to be trained in almost a decade. Those are both long-term processes, but they are crucial to the country's stability. We will continue to work closely with the new Government to promote progress in those 08-54062 areas and to engage bilateral partners, whose support is indispensable.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Following the blueprint laid out in the Haitian National Police Reform Plan, MINUSTAH will be pursuing its efforts in the coming year to address residual problems - including through the ongoing vetting process - and to strengthen their skills and institutional capabilities, while working with bilateral donors to ensure the provision of necessary equipment and infrastructure. The enhancement of police must be complemented by the strengthening of other rule-of- law institutions. Again, clear programmes for reform processes in both areas have been prepared and adopted by the Government and significant advances have taken place, including during the past five months, notwithstanding the difficult political context.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“The development of the Haitian National Police represents a particularly visible example of institution- building in the country, with Haitian National Police officers present throughout the capital and the country. Of course, they are not always in a position to accomplish everything they would like. They are still a young and modestly equipped force. There are areas where their skills could be improved and where their observance of professional standards must be strengthened, but they carry themselves with a new pride, and I believe they will, in due course, become a stronger, more effective service to provide adequate security for their people.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“The country will continue to face a variety of threats in the coming months - attempts by gangs to reconstitute themselves; criminality, including in particular kidnapping; and the risk of civil unrest - all of which could be exacerbated by the socio-economic situation and exploited for political reasons. We therefore believe that the continued presence for the coming 12 months of international troops and formed police, with their current strength and tasking, will be essential to help the Haitian authorities respond in all of those areas. At the same time, we will be proceeding with our efforts to strengthen Haiti's own security capability.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“MINUSTAH has made a contribution in those ministries that are most relevant to its mandate, including in particular the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior, which has responsibility for local government. However, a more general, systematic and coordinated effort is needed. It will require further definition of a national programme in that regard, and extensive bilateral assistance. In the area of security, MINUSTAH troops and police continue to play an essential role. That is clear from the Secretary-General's report, which highlights their engagement in controlling the violence in April. In the last month, the military and police have shown themselves to be just as critical in responding to natural disasters as they were to man-made threats.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Since the adoption of resolution 1780 (2007) last October, MINUSTAH has sought to assist the Haitian authorities in developing a comprehensive approach to border management. Officials at the senior and expert levels have shown interest in advancing in that area, which is critical for the State's financial and physical security, although it will be a challenging task. In addition, MINUSTAH has continued to focus on local governance and has played a significant role in facilitating the ability of the State to respond to the needs of the regions. However, much remains to be done in terms of capacity-building, while Haiti's overall vision for the arrangements for local governance still has not taken final shape. Furthermore, a concerted effort is required to improve the capabilities of the national administration and of key ministries.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“With regard to the political situation, MINUSTAH is working with the national authorities to prepare for the senatorial elections, which were originally supposed to take place last November. Those preparations have been greatly complicated by the confusion generated by the hurricanes. It will probably take four to five months to complete the necessary 3 technical steps once a date has been set by the authorities. However, it is important for that process to advance. While it may lead to a potentially more volatile environment in the short term, as I mentioned earlier, it can, in the medium term, help to create a more stable and normal institutional environment, which can in turn make it easier for the leadership to address other difficult political issues. Meanwhile, further progress must be made in strengthening the State.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“The consolidation plan, which builds on the initial outline provided in the Secretary-General's previous report (S/2008/202), draws on extensive discussion with the Haitian authorities and is based on national reform plans. It suggests that stability will require progress in several areas: first, the political and institutional situation; secondly, extension of State authority, including border management; thirdly, strengthening of the security sector; fourthly, enhancement of justice and corrections; and fifthly, economic and social development. I would like to briefly discuss each of those areas, focusing in particular on what MINUSTAH has accomplished and on the challenges that lie ahead.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“In that uncertain environment, it is incumbent above all on the Haitian leadership to make every effort to maintain and build on the new tendency towards constructive collaboration. At the same time, the international community can make an important contribution, not only through political support, but also by helping the new Government to deliver what the country needs, thereby enhancing its credibility. A joint effort will be required to help ensure that the country stays on the right path towards stability and economic recovery. The report before the Council summarizes a number of areas where progress must be made in order to consolidate stability as requested by the Security Council.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“This new approach of solidarity and outreach is already facilitating concrete results, and it brings a renewed possibility for progress. But at the same time, 08-54062 it remains extremely fragile and will undoubtedly be tested in the months ahead. Historic tendencies towards political confrontation and conflict could easily re-emerge in the context of the forthcoming elections for one third of the Senate. They could also be sparked by discussion of a number of potentially divisive topics that are under consideration, including the appropriate security structure for Haiti and the question of constitutional reform. Moreover, the suffering created by global economic trends and greatly exacerbated by the hurricanes has created a potential reservoir of serious discontent that can be manipulated for political reasons.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Since then, the parliament has shown a fresh level of interest in working with the executive branch, having passed emergency legislation enabling greater flexibility to provide relief funds, and having adopted a supplementary budget as required under the Constitution. On the side of the Government too, there has been a concerted effort to reach out. President Preval visited Gona'ives last Thursday. There have also been joint visits by the Prime Minister and parliamentarians to the regions and systematic engagement of parliamentarians in relief efforts. Furthermore, civil society and the private sector have been working alongside elected representatives to assist victims of the hurricanes, and the Government is energetically pursuing a policy of communication to inform and engage the public.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Some 700,000 people have now received emergency food and relief supplies throughout the country. But it should be noted that even though there is now a relatively smoothly running process to attend to immediate needs, we also need a clear programme to meet longer- term reconstruction requirements. I will return to that point later. Alongside those huge challenges, this is also, as I said, a time of hope based on a new political beginning. The need to respond to the catastrophic problems posed by the hurricanes helped to unblock a political stand-off that had lasted for nearly five months and to generate a new and urgently needed sense of solidarity. The lengthy and difficult confirmation process for a new Government was concluded on 5 September.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Those efforts made a crucial difference in the early days and weeks, buying time for the normal humanitarian mechanisms to gather momentum. I have brought with me some photographs, which I hope will 08-54062 be distributed to members of the Council, to help convey the scale of the calamity and the activities of MINUSTAH troops in response. I would also like to place on record my deep appreciation for the courage, dedication and professionalism shown by our civilian police and military personnel. I am proud of them and grateful to those Member States which have made them available. Today, the United Nations agencies, particularly the World Food Programme (WFP), are providing large-scale assistance, while our troops continue to provide vital logistical and security assistance.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“I have now twice visited the city of Gonaives, which was particularly affected, and those two trips have left me with a personal and abiding sense of the scale of human tragedy that is involved: the homes that have been destroyed; the families that have been uprooted and no longer have a place to call their own; the lives that have been changed forever. The Mission gave priority to supporting the response to the catastrophe over the past month by undertaking evacuations, providing emergency medical care, supporting urgent efforts to shore up collapsing infrastructure and helping to bring critical relief supplies to those who need them, all in collaboration with national authorities and the United Nations country team.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“With regard to the first of those events, the toll of the sequence of hurricanes and storms that struck Haiti has been reported through a number of grim statistics. Over 800,000 Haitians have lost their homes or have been directly affected. There has been massive destruction of roads and bridges and large-scale destruction of crops. But those figures cannot truly convey the level of devastation that is involved or the depth of suffering that it has entailed for an already desperately poor population that has now lost what little it had.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“Mr. Annabi: I am pleased to be back in the Security Council today and to have this opportunity to discuss the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General (8/2008/586), which provides an account of developments between mid- March and the middle of August. At the same time, significant events have taken place since the issuance of the report, most importantly the devastating series of hurricanes that struck the country from mid-August to early September and the nomination and confirmation of the new Government. Those events mean that we stand simultaneously today at a time of challenge and a time of hope.”
2008-10-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5990 (2008) · source
“We need to work together to ensure that this opportunity is seized, that the country's emerging stability is consolidated and that firm foundations are laid for a better future. Let me thank you, Mr. President, and the other members of the Council for your strong support for Haiti. Your support will remain key to MINUSTAH's success as we continue our work on the challenging road ahead of us.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Finally, palpable improvements in the living conditions of the general population and positive growth in gross domestic product for a number of years, as well as a significant rise in employment and in the level of investments, are key indicators that, we believe, the Security Council should keep in mind as it takes decisions regarding the future of its involvement in Haiti. In a rapidly changing and often difficult environment, it is important to avoid the trap of premature optimism or, alternatively, disproportionate discouragement in the face of inevitable setbacks. I believe that we must stay the course and stay focused on the reality that this is probably an exceptional moment of opportunity for Haiti to escape the destructive cycles of the past.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“First, the area of political progress could include the completion of the new electoral cycle, which begins this year with the senatorial elections and should culminate in a peaceful transition to a democratically elected president and parliament in 2011. Secondly, a sustainable security structure should be created, one capable of responding to threats while respecting professional standards. 08-29739 Thirdly, key elements of an independent and credible judicial and penal system that upholds human rights standards should be established. Fourthly and more generally, the establishment throughout the country of a functioning administration that can deliver basic services, including an effective border management strategy, is essential.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Similarly, the continued presence of a peacekeeping operation is indispensable, and it must be supplemented by the sustained and coordinated efforts of bilateral donors and the wider international community. Our common objective must be one of crossing a definitive threshold of stability that would obviate the need for a future peacekeeping operation in Haiti. In line with the Security Council request made in paragraph 22 of resolution 1780 (2007), the present report provides some initial proposals on benchmarks by which consolidation of the stabilization process might be measured in each of the key areas of our mandate. We have identified five such benchmarks.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“In that context, it is urgent that donor countries, the international financial institutions and the private sector, including Haitians living abroad, work with the Haitian authorities to find creative ways to generate what I call a stability dividend - in other words, an immediate and tangible improvement in socio- economic conditions that can allow the stabilization process to advance. I would like to conclude by reiterating that we still have far to go in Haiti. As noted in the report, the Haitian authorities have primary responsibility for the stabilization process. However, it is equally obvious - and the Haitian authorities themselves are very clear on this point - that they cannot do it alone. They will continue to need substantial external assistance.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“All of that is encouraging, but it has not yet brought about any immediate improvement in the difficult living conditions of the vast majority of the population, who have in fact experienced additional hardship as a result of the significant increases in prices of a number of staple commodities over recent months. That has generated growing public discontent over what is called in Haiti "la vie chere", which has a clear potential to undermine all of our stabilization efforts.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Haiti has made significant progress in stabilizing the economy, and real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is estimated to have risen to 3.2 per cent in 2007, which brings Haiti, in terms of overall level of the GDP, back to the level of 1991. The annual inflation rate declined to about 8 per cent last year, down from 30 to 40 per cent a few years earlier, and the currency has remained stable. The Government has prepared a national growth and poverty reduction strategy paper which embodies Haiti's development priorities and should form the basis for future assistance strategies, starting with the discussions that are expected to take place on 24 and 25 April 2008 in Port-au-Prince.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“But continued, coordinated efforts will be essential to turning those blueprints into reality. Sustained engagement by the Haitian political leadership will be necessary to put in place the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the School for Magistrates, which are of key importance. Priority must also be given to short- and medium-term steps to address the situation in the prison system, which is unacceptable from both a security and human rights perspective. Here again, bilateral assistance is indispensable to providing the additional resources, skills and equipment that are required for even basic effectiveness. Finally, the socio-economic situation also presents a mixed picture. While such problems do not fall directly within the mandated responsibilities of MINUSTAH, it is clear that stability and development are inextricably linked.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“While that represents a substantial step forward, it is far short of the minimum of 14,000 officers who are required to ensure basic policing functions, according to the Haitian National Police reform plan. MINUSTAH will continue its efforts to assist in the professionalization of the police and its institutional development, but complementary bilateral support will obviously remain indispensable to meeting the outstanding needs of the police, including in key areas such as infrastructure, transport, telecommunications and other equipment. Similarly, the adoption last December of three critical laws on the independence of the judiciary and of national reform plans for the justice and penal systems, drawing on strong support from MINUSTAH, can pave the way for progress.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“I personally visited six of those projects last month in Cite Soleil and Martissant and was encouraged to see that, after some delays, that community violence reduction programme is now on track. The consolidation of security will require, of course, the creation of viable Haitian rule-of-law structures that can progressively assume more responsibilities as their capacity increases. Over the past six months, some progress has taken place, but much more remains to be done to reach the benchmarks noted in the report. MINUSTAH has been working closely with the Haitian authorities to implement the Haitian National Police reform plan. Some 8,450 officers are now in service, approximately 1,000 of whom are undertaking functions other than policing, such as those of corrections personnel, the coast guard and the fire brigade.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Alongside their role in responding to threats, our military and police have also provided assistance in times of urgent humanitarian crises. Their resourcefulness and dedication have made a crucial difference in that regard. We have also launched a series of innovative community violence reduction projects that we believe can make a genuine difference on the ground. By providing immediate employment through small-scale projects, those efforts can breathe some desperately needed hope into troubled areas and help diminish the economic pressures that fuel constant cycles of violence. They support the reintegration of some of those who have been involved in lesser criminal activities by including them in the workforce. They also help generate some tangible improvements in the daily lives of communities at risk.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“3 The Mission is also reinforcing its presence along the land and maritime borders of Haiti, as mandated under resolution 1780 (2007). Our objective is to support the extension of State authority in the area and to help the Government to deter smuggling or illicit trafficking in drugs and arms that could have implications for the security of the country. As reflected in the report, we are now deployed at the four main crossing points along the land border and are undertaking regular land patrols on the coastline and joint maritime patrols aboard Haitian coast guard vessels, pending deployment of our own maritime capabilities. However, real effectiveness in this area will necessarily depend on complementary bilateral assistance to the Haitian authorities from Member States in the region and beyond.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“A firm and visible response is essential and can only be achieved through collaboration between the Haitian authorities and MINUSTAH, whose military and police are playing a critical role. In order to combat the threat of criminality and violence, we have reinforced our collaboration with the Haitian authorities and enhanced sharing of information. We have stepped up the presence of checkpoints throughout Port-au-Prince, where most of the kidnappings have taken place, and we are working to enhance the investigative and response capabilities of our police, an area where we will need the continued help of police-contributing countries to obtain the necessary skills that MINUSTAH currently lacks. At the same time, our formed police units are working closely with their Haitian counterparts to respond to incidents of civil unrest.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Those kinds of threats, which appear essentially criminal in nature, may be - and often are - manipulated for political purposes. At the same time, we have seen a rise in anti- Government demonstrations, with a particular focus on the recent dramatic increase in the cost of living, as I mentioned earlier. The potential security implications of such unrest were made clear last week, when such demonstrations required the evacuation of our offices in Les Cayes, in the south of the country. Similar demonstrations, albeit less violent, also took place last week in Gonaives, Port-au-Prince and a few other locations. Because of the Violence that has occurred in the past, the Haitian public is particularly sensitive to threats of instability.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“08-29739 In the area of security there have also been important gains over the reporting period, alongside warning signs that the situation remains fragile and that further efforts are required. The sustained security operations conducted by MINUSTAH in the first part of last year against gangs in Port-au-Prince and Gonaives in support of the Haitian authorities continue to bear fruit today. The overall security situation in the country remains far better than it was, but we have also seen a resurgence of kidnapping in the past few months. An average of about 30 kidnappings has been registered per month during the period from December 2007 to the end of March 2008. Those numbers are becoming a political liability for both the Government and MINUSTAH. There are also recurrent indications that gangs may be trying to reorganize themselves.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source
“Overall, the country's democratic structures must be strengthened and nurtured, in order to favour a greater institutionalization of dialogue and to help break a tradition of politically motivated violence. It is also essential that the country's basic administrative capacities be enhanced, so that essential services can be provided to the population. MINUSTAH can provide a small portion of the assistance that is required, and it will continue to support the local authorities. It will also continue to work towards the strengthening of national capabilities in such key areas as border management. But coordinated bilateral aid will remain vital to enable real and durable progress.”
2008-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5862 (2008) · source