Embarking on a 'road to peace, tolerance and prosperity.'(Haiti)

The United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), set up by Security Council resolution 867 (1993), was extended on 29 February "for the final period of four months", until 30 June, in order to help the Government of Haiti sustain the "secure and stable environment which has been established" and professionalize the Haitian National Police.

By unanimously adopting resolution 1048 (1996), the Council also decided to decrease UNMIH's troop level to "no more than 1,200" and reduce the current level of civilian police personnel to "no more than 300". Concurrently, the Council asked all States to provide appropriate support for the actions undertaken by the UN in order to carry out the Mission's mandate. (Canada has sent a 700-strong military contingent to complement the UN forces.)

The Council also asked the Secretary-General to take steps for the Mission's further reduction, consistent with the implementation of its mandate, and "initiate planning" not later than 1 June 1996 for its complete withdrawal.

Member States were also urged to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by resolution 975 (1995) for the support of the Haitian National Police to "ensure that the police are adequately trained and fully operational, which is essential for the implementation of the mandate".

Formidable challenges

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 14 February, in recommending (S/1996/112) that UNMIH be extended for a "further period of six months", stated that "much remains to be done before it can be said that democratic rule is secure in Haiti and its people have embarked irreversibly on the road to peace, tolerance and prosperity".

Although Haitians could be proud of what had been done in the short period since the October 1994 return of constitutional government, they still faced "formidable challenges", he said. Important and useful as international assistance might be, it was "ultimately the Haitians themselves, and they alone, who are in charge of their present and responsible for their future", the Secretary-General stressed.

It was essential that the international community's continued commitment to Haiti at a time of acute financial crisis in the UN be "matched with a renewed commitment by the Haitian people, by their political and civil leaders, and by their Government", Mr. Boutros-Ghali stated. "This opportunity is unique in Haiti's long and often turbulent history. It could not be missed without grave consequences", he declared. Therefore, Haitians "must mobilize their energies, put aside their differences and work together to rebuild their country in a way that brings benefit for all".

By the end of February, 5,200 newly trained Haitian National Police personnel had been deployed and over 750 new police graduates were being deployed. Haitian police officers were "generally well motivated and willing to work". They were "young and inexperienced, however, and lacked proper infrastructure and equipment", he added. The most serious concern was the "absence of competent senior officers and overall leadership", which had sometimes contributed to the "unwarranted or disproportionate" use of force and affected discipline, Mr. Boutros-Ghali noted.

The situation with regard to the penitentiary system remained critical. The lack of infrastructure and equipment hampered the functioning of the inexperienced and overburdened National Penitentiary Administration, he reported.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the French Government had agreed to co-finance a $2.9 million project, expected to begin by mid-February, for the rehabilitation of jails and the training of penitentiary personnel.

Public investments had continued, but private investments had remained sluggish, and instances of the flight of capital had appeared, the report stated. Local and foreign businessmen were cautious and uncertain about conditions after the departure of UNMIH. The rise in prices for food products had been sharper than the rise in the cost-of-living index, partly explaining the considerable increase in public demonstrations. Dependence on foreign assistance had remained high. The public investment or "development" budget was expected to be financed by foreign non-concessional and aid funds.

Continued support

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former President of Haiti, for his "leadership and sagacity in steering Haiti on the road to democracy" and for the cooperation extended to UNMIH. He also assured the country's new President, Rene Preval, of the UN's continued support. President Preval, a close ally and supporter of Mr. Aristide, had won the 17 December 1995 presidential elections and had taken office on 7 February 1996.

Appointments

Enrique ter Horst of Venezuela on 5 March was named the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Haiti and Chief of UNMIH to succeed Lakhdar Brahimi of Algeria. Prior to that assignment, Mr. ter Horst had served as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for El Salvador.

On 4 March, Brigadier-General J. R. P. Daigle of Canada was named Commander of the UNMIH military component, to replace Major-General Joseph Kinzer of the United States, who was returning to national service.