STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVE OF MEXICO, AMBASSADOR ENRIQUE BERRUGA, IN THE DEBATE ON THE
QUESTION CONCERNING HAITI, SECURITY COUNCIL
New York, N. Y., January 12, 2005
Mr. President, ministers of
foreign affairs, members of the Security Council, Special Representative of
the Secretary General. Allow me, first of all, to wish all kinds of success
to Argentina as she enters the Security Council and assumes the presidency
for the month of January.
The question of Haiti has
particular relevance in the foreign policy of Mexico which is why my
Government considers this debate, timely convened by the Argentinian
presidency, to share the premises that guide our policy towards that
Caribbean country.
México supports the efforts
of the international community, in particular in our continent, in favor of
the reestablishment of peace and security in Haiti and the reconstruction of
its democratic institutions.
Likewise, we express our
firmest support towards the MINUSTAH in which the main civil and military
component is from Latinamerica. In particular, Mexico lends its support to
the Special Representative for Haiti and Head of the MINUSTAH, Ambassador
Juan Gabriel Valdés.
Mexico shares with the
Secretary General, Kofi Annan, the premise that the commitments of the
international community towards Haiti should enjoy a comprehensive and long
term approach in order to solve its structural problems.
We consider that the
priority for 2005 should be the promotion of a political dialogue among all
groups and actors in Haiti, without exclusions, towards the preparation of
local and presidential elections under a participatory, representative and
legitimate framework.
In parallel, it is
necessary to keep a medium and long term perspective for the reconstruction
of solid institutions for the Haitian society specially in the areas of law
enforcement, human rights, fighting poverty, construction of infrastructure
and development of quality services in the areas of health, education and
others.
Participation and support
of CARICOM in the solution of the Haitian crisis is fundamental. For that
reason, the initiatives taken in the U.N., the Organization of American
States and other regional groupings and financial organizations should be
coordinated with the Caribbean countries.
In the various mechanisms
that gravitate around the Haitian crisis, Mexico continues to offer its
support, especially in the reconstruction of civilian institutions.
Likewise, we will continue to bestow humanitarian assistance as we have been
doing up to now.
Mr. President:
Secondly, allow me to
present a brief account of the actions of cooperation initiated by Mexico at
the bilateral and regional levels.
During 2004, the Government
of Mexico sent emergency humanitarian aid to Haiti in four instances:
1. On April 1, my country
responded to the appeal made by the interim president, Boniface Alexandre;
we sent 1,012 tons of aid, particularly food and medicines.
2. On June 5 we sent 19
tons of food and medicine to face the crisis caused by strong rains that
devastated various Haitian communities at the border with the Dominican
Republic.
3. On 11 and 12 October,
the Government of Mexico sent to Haiti two Hercules C-130 airplanes of the
Mexican Air Force with 25 tons of aid to face the damages caused by tropical
storm "Jeanne". The package included a group of 16 experts, medical
materials, equipment and food.
4. On November 17 a ship of
the Mexican Navy arrived to Port au Prince transporting medical specialized
personnel as well as civilian engineers. The medical team performed a number
of interventions and gave medical assistance to over one thousand persons.
In the regional perspective
we should point out to the cooperation of Mexico in electoral assistance
through our Federal Electoral Institute.
Responding to the OAS
request, our Electoral Institute currently provides technical support in the
organization, administration and development of the electoral process in
Haiti which will take place this year. In that sense, from 22 to 27 November
the members of the Electoral Provisional Council participated in Mexico in
an international seminar on Electoral administration organized with the
support of the UNDP and the OAS. Representatives of electoral organisms from
Dominican Republic, Panama, El Salvador and Venezuela also participated.
The IFE has also designated
two Mexican officials to participate in the Especial Mission of the OAS to
Haiti.
In the second half of 2005,
Mexico will make a voluntary contribution for the Special Mission of OAS of
20,000.00 U.S. dollars.
In the framework of the
Donors Conference for Haiti, within the Interamerican Development Bank,
which took place on last July, Mexico pledged 40,000.00 U.S. dollars to
cooperate in the technical-scientific and cultural-educational areas,
resources that will be used to facilitate the movement of experts and
technicians between the two countries. The modalities for cooperation
include the areas of: agriculture, water, prevention and attention of
HIV/AIDS, diplomatic training, drainage engineering and production and
control of seeds.
At the subregional level,
Mexico is exploring different areas of cooperation within the Group of
Three, of which Mexico is part along with Venezuela and Colombia as well as
within the Rio Group.
Finally, at the bilateral
level, last October, officials of Mexico, including the Undersecretary for
Latin America and the Caribbean, made an official working visit to Haiti in
order to evaluate possible areas of cooperation. The following were
identified:
Reconstruction of
highways.- Mexico decided to study the possibility of contributing to the
financing and reconstruction of sections of the road from St. Marc to
Gona´ives.
Reforestation.- The
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the Ministry of
Environment of Haiti signed an agreement of cooperation in two specific
projects: the evaluation of sustainable natural resources in the ecosystem
of the Northeast of Haiti and 2) the administration of the National Park "La
Visite".
In the educational realm.-
Mexico offered a package of 40 scholarships for students of High School that
wish to study in our country from this scholar year 2005. Likewise it was
agreed to create the "Gerarde Pierre Charles" Chair in the State University
of Haiti in recognition of the work of this distinguished intellectual and
politician of Haiti who lived for more than twenty years in Mexico.
These have been, up to now,
Mr. President, the most relevant contributions of Mexico to the pacification
and stabilization of Haiti.
Thank you.
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