Return of Aristide hailed after three-year exile.

In welcoming the return to Haiti of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide--in exile since the September 1991 military coup--the Security Council on 15 October expressed confidence that Haitians could now "begin to rebuild their country with dignity and consolidate democracy in a spirit of national reconciliation". As it adopted resolution 948 (1994), by 14 votes to none, with one abstention (Brazil), the Council also welcomed, with the convening of the Haitian Parliament and the departure of the military leadership, that implementation of the 3 July 1993 Governors Island Agreement, the 16 July 1993 New York Pact, and the UN objectives was "well under way".

The fact that sanctions against Haiti were to be lifted "at 0001 a.m. EST on the day after the return to Haiti" of President Aristide, as stipulated in Council resolution 944 (1994), was also hailed.

In expressing support for the dispatch of the advance team of the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), the Council recognized the efforts of the United States-led Multinational Force in Haiti (MNF), deployed since 19 September 1994, in creating the "conditions necessary for the return of democracy to the people of Haiti". It also noted that under resolution 940 (1994), UNMIH would replace the MNF "when the Security Council determines that a secure and stable environment has been established".

A 'new era'

With the "long-awaited return" of President Aristide and the resumption of the democratic process in Haiti, a "new era has begun for the Haitian people", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali stated on 15 October. "At this time of hope", the UN stood ready to help them meet the challenges of the future, as they are now able to rebuild their country on the "solid foundations of reconciliation, freedom and human rights", he said.

On 10 October, the Secretary-General had expressed "satisfaction at the news of resignation" of Lieutenant-General Raoul Cedras as Commander of the Haitian Armed Forces and the transfer of command to Major-General Jean-Claude Duperval. Two other military leaders--Brigadier-General Philippe Biamby and Colonel Michel Francois--were reported to have already submitted their resignations.

In that regard, the Secretary-General on 13 October said he "very much appreciates" the decision of President Ernesto Perez Balladares of Panama to give asylum to the former military leaders. "In facilitating their departure from Haiti, Panama is rendering a valuable service to the efforts under way" to implement Council resolution 940 (1994), he stated.

While on a 15 November visit to Haiti, Mr. Boutros-Ghali congratulated President Aristide for "having managed to inspire a strong wave of national reconciliation" in the country since his return. Dialogue and reconciliation were the "leavening agents that will hasten a return to political stability and the institution of a lasting democracy", he stressed.

The joint UN/Organization of American States (OAS) International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH) and UNMIH were "working wholeheartedly for democracy". They were to help the Haitian people "break the cycle of violence ... regain their dignity, take charge of their destiny again", the Secretary-General stated.

Resolution 964: Increase authorized

A progressive strengthening of the advance team of UNMIH up to 500 personnel, "in order to further facilitate planning of UNMIH, identification of conditions required for the transition from MNF to UNMIH and preparation for the actual transition", was authorized by the Security Council on 29 November.

In adopting resolution 964 (1994) by 13 votes to none, with 2 abstentions (Brazil, Russian Federation), the Council also authorized the Secretary-General to "make good offices available" to assist the Haitian Government in sustaining a secure and stable environment and protecting international personnel and key installations, the professionalization of the Armed Forces and creation of a separate police force, as stipulated by resolution 940 (1994).

In recommending the increase of the UNMIH advance team, which totalled 51 military, police and administrative personnel by 21 November, the Secretary-General had reported (S/1994/1322) "no acts of intimidation or violence" against the UN or other international presence.

On 18 October, he had informed (S/1994/1180) the Council that the advance team was "fully operational", with six teams of two military observers each deployed throughout Haiti, "reporting as of 24 September 1994 to United Nations Headquarters".

Multinational force

A total of 20,345 weapons, including 5,853 grenades and 1,736 machine-guns, had either been seized or brought in weapons control programmes since the beginning of the MNF, and "clear progress continued on the establishment of the Haitian Interim Public Security Force", the MNF reported (S/1995/15) on 9 January 1995.

Since 26 September, the United States had submitted eight reports to the Council on the MNF activities, in accordance with resolution 940 (1994).

With the exception of some incidents--two involving buses running through civilian crowds; an "armed robbery against three American Embassy employees, two of whom were killed, and the death of the Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haitien"; and a "brief eruption of violence" on 26 December--the situation in the country had evolved from "relatively quiet" with some incidents of violence on 10 October, to one of "continued security and stability" on 9 January.

By 8 January, the MNF strength had been reduced to 7,412 troops and 717 international police monitors from its peak of 21,000 in October.

Resolution 49/27: Progress commended

The General Assembly on 5 December paid tribute to the efforts of President Aristide and his Government to "lead the country out of the crisis and return it to the community of nations".

In adopting resolution 49/27 without a vote, the Assembly also commended the "progress of the preparations for the early parliamentary and municipal elections in accordance with the Constitution of Haiti, as a further stage in the strengthening of democracy" there.

The international community was urged to increase its technical, economic and financial cooperation with Haiti in support of its economic and social development efforts and in order to "strengthen Haitian institutions responsible for dispensing justice and guaranteeing democracy, respect for human rights, political stability and economic development".

On 23 December, the Assembly urged the Haitian authorities to "continue to promote full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", in conformity with the relevant international covenants.

As it adopted resolution 49/201 without a vote, the Assembly also asked the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps to "ensure financial and human resources for the urgent establishment", in conjunction with the MICIVIH, of a "special programme of assistance to the Government and people of Haiti in their efforts to ensure the observance of human rights".

A $77-million appeal

An appeal for some $77 million to facilitate the transition from humanitarian assistance to reconstruction and development in Haiti was launched on 6 December.

Covering a six-month period, the appeal differed from traditional consolidated inter-agency appeals in that it sought to "alleviate the suffering of the poorest segments of society, while helping to revive vital government capacity". It also stressed the "overriding importance of socioeconomic revival for political stability in the country".

Following the 13 November tropical storm "Gordon" that had caused more than 400 deaths in Haiti--affecting 55,000 families of which 15,000 had been left without shelter--the UN agencies in the country had "pooled their special emergency resources" to collect some $300,000 to aid victims, the Secretary-General reported (S/1994/1322) on 21 November.

Human rights: 'Significant improvement'

Since MICIVIH had resumed its activities on 26 October, there had been a "significant improvement" in the human rights situation in Haiti, particularly in the areas where the multinational forces were establishing a "climate of freedom and security", the Secretary-General reported (A/49/689) on 23 November.

The situation in the rural areas, however, was "still disturbing", he said. There were reports that section chiefs, "attaches" and members of the armed forces had "continued to repress the population in certain regions, especially supporters of the presence of the multinational forces and of the President's return". The population in general "felt strongly that human rights violations should not remain unpunished", the Secretary-General noted.

On 14 October, Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur Marco Tulio Bruni Celli of Venezuela had reported that the human rights situation in Haiti "continued to be a cause of serious concern", and was "rendered even more dramatic" by the fact that the perpetrators committed violations "with total impunity".

However, Council resolution 940 (1994) had been perceived as the "point of departure of a new concept of political relations between the international community and States as far as the international protection of human rights is concerned", he stated in his report (A/49/513).