Haiti Stands Ready for Recovery, Renewal, U.N.'s Annan Says

Haiti stands ready for peaceful development after staging successful elections in 2006 and after the subsequent formation of a new democratic government, says U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In an August 1 statement, Annan said that a "new page in the history of Haiti has been turned," and that Haiti is "poised" for a fresh start.

"Today, the people of Haiti have a unique opportunity to break the cycle of violence and poverty and move towards a future of stable and peaceful development," Annan said in a report to the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti, known by the acronym MINUSTAH.

Annan praised Haiti's new president, René Préval, who assumed office May 14, for reaching out to "all political and social forces in Haiti in a spirit of reconciliation and dialogue." Annan said representatives from seven different political parties are members of Préval's 18-member Cabinet.

The secretary-general said that for the first time in Haiti's recent history, the legitimacy of Haiti's elections, held in February and April, was not contested. More than 60 percent of Haiti's population voted in the country's February 7 presidential election and the first round of legislative elections, Annan said. (See related article.)

Annan warned, however, that the challenges facing Haiti remain vast, especially in tackling crime and security issues. The international donor community must be willing to increase its support for the Caribbean nation, he said.

On that score, the United States has made a new pledge of almost $210 million over the next year to help in Haiti's economic recovery. The pledge was made at a July 25 international donors' conference for Haiti, held in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. It follows previous U.S. funding assistance for Haiti. (See related article.)

On the negative side, Annan said illegal drugs and arms trafficking remain a major problem in Haiti and have led some civil society groups to criticize the Haitian government and MINUSTAH for what they perceive as inadequate response.

To address this problem, the secretary-general called for strengthening the MINUSTAH police with better-qualified personnel and equipment, and with expert advisers in counter-kidnapping and anti-gang operations to support Haiti's national police force.

The report lists the 37 countries, including the United States, that are providing personnel to MINUSTAH.

Annan issued the report as he headed to Haiti August 2 on the first leg of an official tour that also includes a visit to the Dominican Republic.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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