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OAS MEETING FOCUSES ON NEED TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HAITI

Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza today reiterated the importance of a joint effort by international organizations to tackle the challenge of strengthening Haiti’s institutions. “It is crucial for all international cooperation agencies to coordinate their efforts,” he told participants at an informal meeting of countries and organizations that support Haiti. The meeting was held at OAS headquarters in Washington.

“We need to coordinate effectively with other international organizations to ensure that we are not duplicating efforts,” Insulza said, stressing the need to continue working on issues of interest to Haiti, such as the electoral system, the civil registry based on the voter list prepared with OAS technical assistance, and judicial reform. He also touched on efforts under consideration in the areas of trade, water resources and reforestation, among others.

Secretary General Insulza said one of the major contributions the OAS has made to the reconstruction of the state apparatus had to do with helping to create the voter list for last year’s presidential election. This effort was a success, he said, because it increased the number of registered Haitian citizens from 30,000 to 3.5 million. “This was a great accomplishment basically because of OAS-MINUSTAH joint efforts.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, who chaired the meeting as head of the OAS Haiti Task Force, announced plans for a trade mission to the Caribbean country next May, a joint initiative of the OAS Department of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness in conjunction with the private sector. Ramdin said this would be a boon to the Haiti’s economic development. He also hailed Haiti’s reincorporation into the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It was also announced at the meeting that CARICOM would re-open its offices in that country.

OAS member states as well as other countries and organizations that provide assistance to Haiti reaffirmed their commitment to continue with their support. Also participating, the head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Edmond Mulet, briefed the meeting on his Mission’s activities and perspectives on the Haiti situation.

In expressing his country’s appreciation for the outpouring of support, Ambassador Duly Brutus, Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, outlined efforts by the government of President René Préval to consolidate democracy while addressing top priorities such as the security situation, with support from the international community.

Among the organizations represented at today’s OAS meeting were the European Union, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Reference: E-030/07