AHP News - August 16, 2006 - English translation (Unofficial)

The mandate of MINUSTAH has been renewed for six months by the UN Security Council

Port-au-Prince, August 16, 2006 (AHP); The United Nations Security Council decided unanimously on Wednesday to extend the mandate of the UN force in Haiti another six months, until February 15, 2007, under the terms of Resolution 1702 (2006). The Security Council also decided to increase the numbers of personnel in the military component to up to 7,200 troops of all ranks and a police component of up to 1,951 civilian officers.

This resolution was adopted on the basis of a report on the situation in Haiti submitted to the council by UN secretary-General Kofi Annan. His report finds that while the smooth running of the national elections allowed a new page to be turned in the history of Haiti, the situation on several levels and particularly regarding security, remains very disturbing and destabilizing.

Crime in Port-au-Prince continues to be a grave source of concern because the sources of instability have endured and the country still lacks the resources for re-establishing order, the report asserts.

In this resolution, the Council calls on member states to immediately provide an adequate number of qualified and particularly francophone police officers to fully staff MINUSTAH police, and with specific expertise in anti-gang operations, prison administration and other specialized areas deemed necessary in the Secretary-General's report.

The Security Council also authorized MINUSTAH to deploy 16 corrections experts from member states to help the Haitian government address the shortcomings of the Haitian prison system.

The Council asked MINUSTAH to expand its assistance in order to help the Haitian government strengthen State institutions, especially outside Port-au-Prince, and asked the Haitian authorities, especially the PNH, and MINUSTAH to achieve optimal coordination in order to counter crime and violence.

The UN force is also asked to reorient its Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration efforts through the establishment of a complete program to combat violence, adapted to local conditions.

This program should include assistance to initiatives aimed at improving local governance and reinforcing the rule of law as well as offering employment opportunities to former gang members and at-risk youth.

MINUSTAH is again called upon to support the constitutional and political process in Haiti by offering its good offices and promoting dialogue and national reconciliation.

The Security Council asked the Haitian authorities to complete possible the second round of legislative, local and municipal elections as soon as feasible and asks MINUSTAH to furnish all appropriate assistance to that end consistent with its mandate.

The Council also drew the attention of donor states to the need to pay the funds that have been pledged without delay because the provision of generous and continued international aid will be essential for the Haitian people and their government to succeed in pursuing its program for social and economic development.
AHP August 16, 2006 3:40 PM