Haiti’s new Govt hailed, but challenges ahead

Security Council hails Haiti’s new Government while noting challenges ahead

The United Nations Security Council today congratulated Haiti’s newly inaugurated President, his Government and the new parliamentarians and called on them to build a better future for the Caribbean country and to finish the cycle of municipal, local and remaining parliamentary elections.

In a statement on President René García Préval’s inauguration yesterday, the Council president for the month of May, Ambassador Basile Ikouébé of the Republic of Congo, underscored the importance of the mandate given to newly elected parliamentarians by the Haitian people “to work constructively to build a better future for their country.”

Towards that end, the Council urged the executive and legislative powers “to establish a fruitful and collaborative relationship,” Mr. Ikouébé said.

The Council stressed that holding municipal, local and the remaining parliamentary elections in a timely fashion was fundamental to democratic governance.

Reviewing the list of challenges which the country faces and which Mr. Préval has pledged to tackle, the Council highlighted “the need to ensure a secure and stable environment in Haiti, strengthen its democratic institutions, foster national reconciliation, inclusiveness and political dialogue, promote and protect human rights and the rule of law, and build governmental capacity.”

It also emphasized the need to reform and strengthen Haiti’s law enforcement systems. In that regard, the Council looked forward to the results of the discussions between the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the new authorities on security-related issues.

The Council repeated that the country needed the quick implementation of highly visible and labour intensive projects that help to create jobs and deliver basic social services and it looked forward to the upcoming donors’ ministerial meeting to be held in Brasilia, Brazil, on 23 May.

The intention of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to reintegrate Haiti fully into its activities was welcome, the Council said, also expressing its appreciation for the contribution of the Organization of the American States (OAS) to the electoral process.

“In this regard, the Council supports the commitment of the new Haitian authorities to enhance cooperation with regional partners in order to address issues related to regional stability,” the President said.

The Council also thanked Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative, Juan Gabriel Valdés, for his dedication to the success of the UN presence in Haiti.

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