ARTICLE - SEC. COUNCIL - RELATIVE PROGRESS

THE SECURITY COUNCIL NOTED RELATIVE PROGRESS
(Haiti Libre) -

After a visit on February 16, to the Police Academy, the Carradeux IDP camp, and a Cholera Treatment Centre in Port-au-Prince, the 15 members of the delegation of the Security Council have ended their mission to Haiti. At a press briefing at the end of this mission, Ambassador Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, and Head of the delegation, has noted relative progress and has put forward, the finding made by the Security Council that the Haitian institutions will need the "strong support of the international community to be able to stand."

...during our visit, we have seen much and heard much from many Haitians, whether they were government officials, or from civil society, both in Port-au-Prince or in the north and south regions[...] We found that the Haitian institutions will have need of a strong support from the international community to be able to stand. In Cap Haitien, we visited an overcrowded prison, and we have also seen that a court had difficulty to function. These two essential pillars of the rule of law in Haiti will need the support of international partners [...] In Miragoâne, we could see how the reduction in the military personnel of the Minustah has opened new prospects for the cooperation between the Haitian National Police and United Nations police. Here in Port-au-Prince, we have found that puting on the same premises, representatives of the Haitian National Police and United Nations police can offer opportunities both in terms of "mentoring" for training and skills transfer. This reinforces our idea of ​​the importance and of the wisdom, that there is to transform and further strengthen the National Police of Haiti (PNH) until the job is done; and that we have at that time, a professional police force, modern and able to work alone. Haitian security depends, obviously to a very large extent, on a much more prosperous future for the Haitian people."

While welcoming the willingness of President Martelly to make job creation a priority, Ambassador Rice stressed that the Security Council deems it necessary that the executive and legislative powers manage to "overcome their personal interests and work together in a spirit of compromise to resolve the problems affecting the nation".