Haiti

At the time of its most recent renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate, this Council emphasised two points.

First, that any reconfiguration of the Mission should be guided by facts on the ground.

And second, that this Council should act at any time to adjust MINUSTAH’s mandate if compelled by a change of conditions in Haiti.

Both rely on the Council receiving information that enables it to monitor continuously the situation on the ground.

So, we welcome the Secretary-General’s recent report and the briefing from Special Representative Honoré; both of which build on the information gathered during the Council’s visit to Haiti earlier this year.

Mr President: MINUSTAH must be fit for purpose.

As the situation on the ground evolves, the Mission must adjust accordingly.

We must ensure clarity of purpose, and have the resolve to consolidate the Mission as and when the Haitian authorities are ready to assume responsibility for Haiti’s security.

But, as the Council contemplated last year, any reconfiguration of MINUSTAH must be based on a rigorous assessment of the needs on the ground.

In that regard, and based on its assessment, particularly from the January visit, we must say that New Zealand is apprehensive about the planned – and already committed – drawdown in this Mission’s military component.

The military component presently provides a back-up if the national police force is unable to address security concerns, even with the assistance of the MINUSTAH police component.

Until the number and capacity of local police is increased, the ability of the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH to ensure the safety and security of the Haitian people may be tested.

This is particularly so with respect to the electoral period scheduled to last for several months later this year.

This Council must remain open-minded, flexible and ready to respond, if necessary, to changes in the security environment.

We must also be responsive to the views of countries on the Council’s agenda and to this end, we acknowledge President Martelly’s letter to the Secretary General, including amongst other things, a request for a pause on the reconfiguration of MINUSTAH.

We will reflect further on the letter, but we wish today to register, that we are encouraged by the progress made in strengthening domestic institutions in Haiti, in particular the Haitian National Police.

We look forward to a time when the HNP can assume full responsibility for security and stability in Haiti.

But there is still much work to be done.

As acknowledged in the Secretary-General’s Report, the HNP requires more officers and further training.

Given the ongoing challenges to law and order, and the urgent need to continue developing HNP’s capacity, it is imperative that the full complement of MINUSTAH police personnel envisaged in the Mission mandate, be deployed as soon as possible.

This is a priority, particularly given the imminent reduction in MINUSTAH’s troop numbers.

Mr President: MINUSTAH will not be in Haiti forever. Haiti must increasingly assume responsibility for its own security and stability.

An inclusive and representative democracy is a precondition to achieving this goal.

It is therefore critical that Haiti should hold fair and free elections and restore a functioning legislature.

As noted by other Council members, all of Haiti’s political actors must do everything possible to ensure that those elections take place promptly, in stable conditions, and without violence.

Everything must be done to avoid further delays in the electoral process.

We urge the international community to stand ready to support that electoral process.

Mr President: Without a well-managed transition process, MINUSTAH’s achievements risk coming undone.

We commend the transition planning already underway, and urge that it continue in a spirit of genuine partnership between MINUSTAH and the Haitian Government.

The needs of Haiti must be well understood as they inevitably change during the transition.

Flexibility will be required to ensure that that the people of Haiti can develop their country in accordance with their own priorities; and, ultimately, that they have full ownership of their destiny.

Thank you Mr President.