VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0838/01 2582319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 152319Z SEP 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7181
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 1627

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000838 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC HA
SUBJECT: UNSC OPEN DEBATE ON SYG'S REPORT ON HAITI 
 
REF: STATE 33393 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  On September 9 the Security Council held 
an open debate on the Secretary-General's report on the UN 
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  Former President 
Bill Clinton, addressing the Council in his capacity as UN 
Special Envoy to Haiti, called for projecting a "more 
positive image" of Haiti and urged international donors to 
fund their commitments.  The Secretary-General's Special 
Representative to Haiti, Hedi Annabi, reported limited 
progress on the Secretary-General's five benchmarks for 
consolidating stability in Haiti.  Haitian Prime Minister 
Michele Pierre-Louis delivered a poignant speech highlighting 
her country's progress while calling for continued 
international support.  All 15 Council Members and 16 
delegations--10 from Latin America and the 
Caribbean--participated in the debate. 
 
¶2. (SBU) (Summary cont.)  Debate in the Council was marked by 
general agreement on major themes.  Ambassador Rice cited 
"real progress" in the security situation while noting that 
threats to stability remain.  Council Members praised the 
recent Senate elections and passage of key legislation, drew 
linkages between security, stability and socio-economic 
conditions, acknowledged incremental improvement in the 
capacity of the Haitian National Police (HNP), recognized the 
contributions pledged at the April 14 Donors' Conference, and 
called for the extension of the MINUSTAH mandate.  Other 
Members States largely reiterated these broad themes while 
offering strong expressions of Latin American and Caribbean 
solidarity with Haiti (End Summary). 
 
Special Envoy Clinton lends support, 
provides optimistic outlook 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) On September 9 the Security Council held an open 
debate on the Secretary-General's report on the UN 
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  UN Special Envoy 
to Haiti Bill Clinton called for projecting a "more positive 
image" of Haiti and urged international donors to fund their 
commitments, noting that of $760 million in pledges, only $21 
million has been disbursed.  Clinton noted the importance of 
the Government of Haiti's (GOH) Recovery Program for the 
creation of new jobs and the provision of basic services.  He 
encouraged increased private sector investment and 
competition and urged NGOs and civil society groups to invest 
more human and financial capital in Haiti.  He listed the 
many individuals and groups committed to progress in Haiti 
including President Preval, Prime Minister Pierre-Louis, 
members of the Haitian diaspora, national and multinational 
donors, NGOs, and neighboring Latin American and Caribbean 
countries.  Clinton praised MINUSTAH for contributing to a 
"more secure environment" in Haiti and thanked the Council 
for its strong and continued support of the mandate. 
 
SRSG Annabi cites limited progress on 
benchmarks, calls for maintaining efforts 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) SRSG Annabi provided an update on the status of the 
Secretary-General's five benchmarks for consolidating 
stability in the country, tracking closely with the SYG's 
report on MINUSTAH.  Annabi praised the recent Senate 
elections and increased political dialogue as well as the 
establishment of Presidential Commissions and greater 
executive-legislative cooperation.  He noted progress in 
extending state authority and enhancing institutional 
capacity, but stated that much more needs to be done to 
deliver basic services throughout the country.  Annabi 
highlighted "continued progress in addressing threats and 
developing security capabilities" and praised MINUSTAH for 
its critical role in strengthening the HNP.  Despite nascent 
judicial and penal reform efforts, Annabi said more needs to 
be done in furtherance of the rule of law and respect for 
human rights.  While recognizing that socio-economic 
development is not a core peacekeeping issue, Annabi 
underscored the link between stability and development and 
urged the international community to continue its assistance. 
 
 
 
Haitian Prime Minister grateful for support, 
notes progress and promises more 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Haitian Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis 
delivered a poignant speech highlighting her country's 
progress while calling for continued international support. 
She credited MINUSTAH, the international community and the 
HNP for helping to "reestablish a climate of peace, stability 
 
and security," while acknowledging the need to further 
strengthen police capacity, pursue judicial and penal 
reforms, address human rights abuses, and improve 
socio-economic conditions in Haiti.  She affirmed the GOH's 
commitment to fostering local investment, attracting foreign 
investment, and promoting job creation.  Pierre-Louis noted 
her government's efforts to invest in critical infrastructure 
designed to extend basic services, as well as its promotion 
of "essential" economic development reforms. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Pierre-Louis stated that Haiti's progress and 
stability remains "fragile and vulnerable," and depends on 
the continued support and partnership of the international 
community, including the funding pledges made at the April 14 
Donors' Conference in Washington.  In order to overcome the 
challenges that remain, Pierre-Louis called for greater 
investment to boost national production, improving and 
expanding basic infrastructure, fostering private enterprise, 
reducing corruption, engaging local civil society and 
regional actors, restoring confidence among the nations' 
youth, and guaranteeing social, economic and political 
rights.  Pierre-Louis also noted that the GOH had satisfied 
the conditions for $1.2 billion in debt relief by, inter 
alia, passing a legislative budget for 2009-2010, passing 
minimum wage legislation, and taking steps to protect the 
environment and encourage reforestation. 
 
Council Members follow same script 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ambassador Rice praised MINUSTAH and cited "real 
progress" in Haiti including increased political cooperation, 
improvement in the security situation and gradual improvement 
in the HNP.  Rice noted, however, that threats to stability, 
including transnational crime, gang violence, and civil 
unrest, remain.  In addition to improving security in Haiti, 
Rice stated that the U.S. is working to strengthen the rule 
of law, expand human security, extend economic development, 
deepen good governance, and reinforce the stability required 
for the eventual drawdown of peacekeeping forces.  She noted 
the $353 million pledged to Haiti at the April 14 Donors' 
Conference in Washington, including $77 million in U.S. aid. 
Rice urged the GOH to foster political dialogue and continue 
efforts to advance economic growth and development.  While 
fully supporting the extension of MINUSTAH's mandate, Rice 
echoed the Secretary-General's statement that the Haitian 
people bear primary responsibility for their country's future. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Other Council Members largely reiterated Rice's 
comments.  Members welcomed progress in Haiti while 
recognizing its fragility, praised the recent Senate 
elections and the passage of key legislation, drew linkages 
between security, stability and socio-economic conditions, 
acknowledged incremental improvement in the capacity of the 
HNP, recognized the contributions pledged at the April 14 
Donors' Conference, offered support for the UN stability 
consolidation plan, and called for extending the MINUSTAH 
mandate.  There was widespread consensus that ultimate 
responsibility for success in Haiti lies with the GOH and the 
Haitian people.  Chinese PermRep Zhang asserted that 
fostering economic and social development falls outside the 
Security Council's purview and should not be pursued by 
MINUSTAH.  The Croatian Deputy PermRep called for greater 
numbers of female officers in the HNP while the Costa Rican 
PermRep deplored Haitian military spending as wasteful and 
unnecessary. 
 
Other delegations repeat themes; 
regional actors express solidarity 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Latin American and Caribbean nations voiced strong 
solidarity with Haiti.  Uruguay, speaking on behalf of the 
Group of Friends of Haiti, emphasized the linkage between 
security, stabilization and development.  Sweden, speaking on 
behalf of the European Union, added that unemployment, 
increased cost of living, and lack of basic services could 
undermine stability and development.  Sweden also 
specifically urged Haiti to do more to prevent prison 
overcrowding and pre-trial detention.  Canada, as Chair of 
the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Group on Haiti, stated that economic growth 
objectives will not be obtained until huge gaps in basic 
services are closed.  Cuba cited Haiti as an example of the 
"disastrous consequences of colonialism and neocolonialism," 
while emphasizing its bilateral assistance in the health 
arena.  Venezuela highlighted its energy-related development 
assistance to Haiti (its "brother nation of emancipation") 
while Jamaica, speaking on behalf of Caricom, reaffirmed 
solidarity for Haiti within the Caricom "family." 
RICE