Haiti: visit of Foreign Minister Jean Victor Généus

Thank you very much, Madam Chair; Mr. Minister; Mr. Secretary General.

Dear colleagues, we welcome and are grateful for the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti. His presence here today is a sign of his country's interest in maintaining a dialogue with the region about the challenges it faces and in opening avenues of understanding as to how the international community can take part.

From here in the Organization of American States (OAS), all of us, without exception, have been witnesses to what has been described in his statement about the turbulent institutional, social and economic life of Haiti in recent times. As you have pointed out, Mr. Minister, what is most visible to everyone outside Haiti is the terrible spiral of violence of recent times: kidnappings, massacres, murders and the lawlessness imposed by the armed gangs that control areas of territory. If all of this is not a clear and unequivocal call to act in solidarity, then it deserves to be one. The progressive deterioration and the instability that afflict Haiti are an assault on the dignity of an entire people, on regional security and on the shared values of solidarity and cooperation. You, Mr. Minister, have said so clearly.

From the Dominican Republic we warn that when uncivilized processes are unleashed, barbarism is an inevitable guest. All that has been described constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security of my country, to our foreign policy and to our economy. Despite the disagreements of the past, we wish to be optimistic and to see the crisis as an opportunity to move forward. The brutal events of recent days affect hundreds of thousands of Haitians. It is urgent to work with his government to restore security, stabilize Haiti, address the humanitarian crisis, promote democracy and demonstrate commitment to all the values of this Organization. If no action is taken, the multidimensional crisis will deepen. Good offices are also needed to mediate among the country's leaders and so facilitate the national dialogue that must chart the future of Haiti. We welcome the efforts of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in this direction; we hope he succeeds in uniting and rallying the political, social and economic leadership behind a single course.

A few years ago, when the deterioration of conditions in Haiti and the frustration of the international community were evident, the Dominican Republic took part in the discussion and negotiation of the terms of the mandate of the United Nations political mission that replaced the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). We wanted a broader and more horizontal conversation in order to achieve a robust multidimensional mandate. We believed that the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) had to be strong, broad and adequately financed. The proposal then made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations was neither specific enough in its objectives nor broad enough to preserve stability over time and to steer Haiti back toward development.

Another fundamental aspect for us is vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. As you well know, our country and the Republic of Haiti share a single ecosystem. This places us in a unique position to address the subject. Our island is ecologically fragile and has limited resources; it is among the places most vulnerable to climate change. That is a real source of displacement and suffering, and it is a threat to peace, stability and security.

In short, our position has always been the same: to encourage strong international solutions that the Haitian authorities accept, with broad capacities and sufficient financing; solutions truly capable of bringing lasting peace and stability to Haiti under the leadership of Haitians themselves; solutions that truly reflect the solidarity of the international community with the people of Haiti.

Finally, I must say once again that what my country does exceeds its capacity. Our proven solidarity and our commitment to the development of Haiti have been palpable at every stage of this crisis.

Thank you, Madam Chair.