Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, on the question concerning Haiti - October 23rd, 2023

Distinguished Representatives,

I thank Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Ms. Mirlande Manigat, President of the High Transitional Council; Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their briefings. I also extend a warm welcome to the Permanent Representatives of Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

We meet today after two very important resolutions were passed this month to help Haiti deal with its dire security situation. The first one (resolution 2699 (2023) authorized the deployment of a Multinational Support Mission to assist the Haitian National Police fight the gangs and re-establish minimum security conditions. The second one(resolution 2700 (2023), renewed the sanctions regime applicable to Haiti, including a comprehensive arms embargo. Those directly or indirectly responsible for the violence must know that there will be consequences. The two resolutions have been adopted as a direct response to multiple requests for assistance and cooperation made by Haiti itself. We are hopeful that the security conditions will soon start to improve.

We commend those Member States that have volunteered to contribute to the Multinational Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti. We kindly invite them to swiftly agree on and submit to the Council the rules of engagement for the Mission, which will allow for its timely deployment in accordance with resolution 2699 (2023). It remains to be established how the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) can better support the efforts of the Multinational Support Mission. BINUH’s work has been important in areas such as the promotion of dialogue, electoral reforms, police capacity-building, justice and prison systems improvement of the and human rights protection. The Mission and the Office will need to coordinate and establish a mutually beneficial dynamic to ensure that security conditions will improve in Haiti, leading to an environment that will allow for institutional, economic and social normalization.

Brazil has long contributed to efforts to sustaining peace in Haiti, of which is example the 13 years that Brazil led the military component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The experience amassed during that period allows us to consider better cooperation opportunities with the Multinational Support Mission, that will contribute to the stability and development of Haiti.

Distinguished Representatives,

No one doubts that security assistance is crucial and urgent in the current circumstances. Yet Brazil insists that multiple coordinated efforts are essential for a lasting solution to Haiti’s multidimensional crisis. Security assistance must be coupled with robust development assistance, as well as support for institutional strengthening. This is imperative if we are to help address the root causes of violence, instability and poverty.

Progress in restoring stability and laying firmer ground for development requires a broad national political agreement. There is no alternative to Haiti’s political leaders setting aside their differences so that an agreement is reached on a credible framework for holding elections. The Multinational Support Mission is expected to create sufficient conditions for this to happen. Its benefits in terms of security are to serve the interests of society, and not any specific political actor or group. The Mission is meant to create the conditions for Haiti to rebuild democratic governance and resume its path towards prosperity. In doing so, it will allow international cooperation to continue and hopefully grow, facilitating Haiti’s development.

Distinguished Representatives,

Brazil has been relentless in its cooperation efforts with Haiti. Beyond providing over 90,000 humanitarian visas to Haitian citizens during this difficult period, we have insisted on keeping our initiatives, as conditions permit, in areas such as health, education, capacity-building and reconstruction. In 2023, Brazil donated 5,000 doses of the rabies vaccine to the Haitian Government through the Pan American Health Organization. We have also helped to strengthen the Haitian immunization programme, donated ambulances and offered scholarships for human resources training.

We invite the international community to look at Haiti as much more than a country in crisis and to believe in the potential of its people. We must do more for Haiti than the bare minimum to overcome the current crisis. If we collectively help Haitians through cooperation focused on long-term development, surely they will thrive in the future.

Distinguished Representatives,

Haiti has a long history and a rich culture. Its people are resilient and hard-working. With further support from the international community and a renewed sense of duty by the Haitian political leadership, the country will progressively overcome its challenges.

Thank you.