ARTICE - OAS - UNESCO ENVOY FOR HAITI

AT OAS SESSION, UNESCO SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HAITI CALLS TO CREATE NEW BONDS OF COOPERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY
(The Bahamas Weekly) - By OAS

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) met today in a special session to receive the Special Envoy of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Haiti, Michaëlle Jean, who called upon member countries of the hemispheric organization to "build bridges, cooperate with one another and facilitate investments within the Americas for the reconstruction of Haiti."

Special Envoy Jean began her speech with a historical review of the Haitian revolution to the country's struggle for independence, explaining that "Haitian women and men need their brothers in the Americas to support them in a new struggle for emancipation, and in a new process of enrichment." She went on to explain that “at this moment, all of Haiti calls for us to send reinforcements in the form of powerful inter-American synergy to ensure that this is not a time of defeat."

The UN representative welcomed the OAS’ efforts to help Haiti become a more secure and stable country, stating "there is no other suitable organization to carry out this task." She urged the institution to play an active role. "The relations between the peoples of the Americas must be strengthened and consolidated through dynamic cooperation agreements," she said.

In her speech, Michaëlle Jean mentioned the commitment of UNESCO to the implementation of the National Pact for Education, headed by the Haitian President Michel Martelly, which seeks an accessible and high quality universal education system.

The envoy highlighted "the immense richness of the Haitian culture and their aptitude for development due to social cohesion" which, in her eyes, "are the driving force behind the reconstruction of Haiti." In this regard, she stressed that the OAS "must maintain its commitment to build, create opportunities, and stand by Haiti’s side during this time of great need."

Referring to the recent commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the UN representative mentioned several articles from the document and called for the reconsideration of their words. "Sometimes we need to be reminded of how potent the meanings of everyday words are in reaching substance. I think we have a sacred mission to believe in the original intent of the words,” she said.

Welcoming the representative, the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert R. Ramdin, gave thanks for the “inspiring ideas and reflections” presented to the Council and assured that “since its foundation, the OAS has upheld the Caribbean country as a priority in their agenda” and ensured that it will keep doing so for as long as it is necessary.

“Our perspective focuses not only on the problems and challenges but also in the richness and creativity that exists in Haiti,” he explained, and mentioned several initiatives that the OAS has undertaken in support of the Haitian reconstruction, specifically those related to strengthening democracy, governability, civil registry, and cadastre projects.

The Permanent Representative of Haiti to the OAS, Ambassador Duly Brutus, honored the labor of the Special Envoy, principally in the area of education, and recognized her for “having contributed with her intervention in make the countries of the Americas feel closer to Haiti.”

At the end of the session, the President of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Guatemala, Ambassador Jorge Skinner-Klee, with the Permanent Representatives of Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Saint Kitts and Nevis, El Salvador, the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominica, Uruguay, Dominican Republic and Bolivia, offered interventions in which they highlighted the words of the representative of the United Nations as a call for action and mobilization. They also thanked the Permanent Mission of Canada for the invitation to the Special Envoy to assist the session of the Council.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org .