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OAS Secretary General Meets with Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister

  August 26, 2010

OAS Secretary General Meets with Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister
Photo: OAS

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, who arrived in Haiti today, held a meeting with the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Marie-Michele Rey.

During the meeting, they talked about the work of reconstruction following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. Minister Rey said the country’s priority continues to be focused on dwellings, education and health, areas where the largest proportion of reconstruction projects is focused.

Secretary General Insulza, for his part, reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to the recovery of the Caribbean nation, emphasizing its support for the process that will culminate with presidential and legislative elections on November 28, the continuous modernization and integration of the civil registry and the renewal of the cadastre system and land tenure infrastructure.

Since 2006, the OAS, through its Civil Identity Program of the Americas (PUICA), has been providing support to Haiti’s Office of National Identification (ONI) with a project that seeks to establish modern and universal civil registry and identification systems directed by the Haitian government. This work is especially important after the earthquake, which changed the existing identity mechanisms.

Furthermore, the OAS works jointly with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the Electoral Observation Mission that began its activities on August 3 and will follow the electoral process leading up to the elections as well as the voting itself, counting of the ballots and closing of the polls.

Reference: FNE-4348