Mr. President,
Receive our congratulations, all our wishes and our support for your presidency. I extend these thanks to the permanent representative of Guyana and her mission for the presidency of last month.
I also thank the Under-Secretary General, Mr. Miroslav Jenca, and Madam Executive Director of Onudc, Ghada Fathi Waly, for their lighting and alarming presentations on the situation in Haiti. I salute the presence among us of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Alvarez, and gentlemen permanent representatives of Haiti, Kenya and Barbados.
Mr. President,
The absolute priority is to restore security in Haiti. I will not come back to what the United Nations officials said: humanitarian disaster is coupled with an internal and regional major security crisis.
Without recovery of security, there will be no progress in the political transition process. However, the restoration of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Haiti are stages necessary to put an end to the multidimensional crisis which strikes the country. This should allow the return of state authority and the end of massive human rights violations and international humanitarian law, which the Haitian population undergoes, in particular women and children due to the action of gangs. It is important that the Haitian authorities can work together to advance the transition.
Mr. President,
The strengthening of international security support in Haiti is essential and urgent.
In this regard, three axes of efforts have priority for this advice:
First, the United Nations greater involvement to help restore security. France welcomes the commitment of Kenya and other troop contributors to the multinational security support mission. Their commitment alongside the national police in Haiti is essential as much as it is courageous, and we are grateful to them. As the President of the Republic of Kenya pointed out, Se William Ruto, this mission must be better endowed, in troops and in equipment, to help slow the expansion of the gangs and recover the territories they control. France encourages partners to redouble their efforts in support of the mission. The efforts made by the regions of the region, more necessary than ever, must be accompanied by a clear framework provided by the United Nations. France is convinced that the United Nations can provide strategic and operational expertise, as well as essential logistical support. The Secretary General sent recommendations on this subject, including that of creating a logistics support office more than four months ago. The urgency of the security and humanitarian situation forces us to move forward. It is the responsibility of this advice. France wants to work with all the members of this council in this direction.
Second, the use of sanctions. It is a key lever to combat gangs and transnational organized crime networks that feed them. France supports the new proposals of the United States for sanctions. Embargo on arms and individual sanctions must be implemented strictly. These sanctions must also be applied to individuals who support and finance gangs. This must be accompanied by renewed efforts to combat corruption and financial crimes.
Third, support for Haitian security authorities and forces. This support is necessary to help the full implementation of the sanctions regime, support the rise in capacity for the security forces, set up gang demobilization mechanisms and support the strengthening of Haitian judicial and penitentiary systems. In all these areas, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, to which France reiterates its support, has its full role to play. I particularly thank the special representative, Ms. MarÃa Isabel Salvador, for the action she carried out at the head of the Binuh.
Mr. President,
France takes its entire part from this collective effort. It does it with emergency humanitarian aid, it also does so by contributing to the multinational security support mission and by providing bilateral financial and material aid to the Haitian security forces. France continues its commitment to solidarity with the Haitian people. It once again calls for all international partners to redouble their efforts and wishes to move forward as quickly as possible with the entire council for a quick decision following the proposals of the Secretary General.
Thank you.
