Haiti: resolution in support of security and the transition

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

We thank Mr. Cristóbal Dupouy, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Haiti, as well as the Ambassador of Kenya, Lazarus O. Amayo, and Ambassador Colin Granderson, Special Adviser on Haiti to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); likewise, Ms. Laura Flores, of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations.

We also express our recognition to this Organization's Working Group on Haiti and, in particular, to the leadership exercised by the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Anthony Phillips-Spencer, whose dedication has been fundamental in ensuring that the OAS keeps on its agenda the promotion of security, humanitarian support and progress toward transparent and democratic elections in Haiti.

It is important for us to highlight the adoption of this resolution, although we would have preferred it sooner and in more concrete terms. It seeks to support the efforts of the Multinational Security Support Mission of the United Nations (UN) and the Eminent Persons Group of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It is a sign of the joint effort needed to address the crisis Haiti faces.

The significance of this resolution becomes clear when one considers the direct influence that security in Haiti has on the stability of our entire region, in keeping with the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Dear colleagues, we face a disheartening reality in Haiti: an escalating humanitarian crisis, growing violence by armed gangs, environmental degradation, health emergencies, the worrying displacement of the population with uncontrolled migration, and a significant deterioration of democratic spaces and of leadership. It is a perfect storm for chaos and barbarism. It is imperative to act with determination and to seek joint action at the regional and international levels to address the structural causes of this crisis.

The resolution adopted emphasizes the need to concentrate efforts in the political sphere to mitigate the crisis, urging the inclusion of all of Haitian society, from the Government to civil society, and it underlines the importance of international collaboration, stressing the crucial role of the countries of the region and of international bodies in building a stable future for Haiti.

This resolution represents a new attempt to reach international consensus on the need for a holistic approach to this situation, recognizing the importance of Haiti's stability for the region and, in particular, for us in the Dominican Republic. It could be another step toward the restoration of Haiti and, therefore, toward regional security.

Haiti, with its rich history, reminds us of resilience and of the capacity to overcome adversity. The international community must be an ally in building a more promising future for our neighbor.

Nevertheless, we must be aware of the growing skepticism about the effectiveness of resolutions in relation to the crisis in Haiti. Over the years we have seen attempts which, though well intentioned, have not translated into concrete actions or significantly changed the reality on the ground. This gap between normative commitment and effective execution weakens the credibility of our institutions and discourages those who trust in the capacity of the international community to bring about real change.

Dear colleagues, it is essential that formal declarations be accompanied by strategies involving resources, political will and continuous follow-up. Otherwise, we run the risk that this resolution, like others, becomes a formality that dilutes the urgency of the Haitian crisis instead of catalyzing meaningful efforts to resolve it, which would be incompatible with the principles of solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility that must govern the actions of this Organization.

Despite those challenges and the pessimism that recent history may arouse in us, we must not yield to fatalism. In moments of great uncertainty and complexity, the true value of international cooperation and effective multilateralism is revealed. This, then, is another moment to reaffirm the usefulness and effectiveness of the OAS. We must see the crisis as a turning point, an opportunity to intensify efforts and to show that collective action can make the difference. It is not only a matter of adopting resolutions, but of assuming a firm and lasting commitment that goes beyond rhetoric: less talk and more action. Haiti cannot wait.

Mr. Chair, this new resolution must be not only a call to action for the international community, but also a call to unity for the leaders in Haiti. It must be a reminder that political consensus and collaboration are not optional but fundamental to the progress of a nation; that a nation frees itself through example, through principles; that one's word counts, that commitments are honored and that when mistakes are made they are admitted and corrected. Without that maturity, all legitimacy disappears, leadership fades, and only force or manufactured ghosts remain. Only force or ghosts remain. No one wants to be in that position.

We must be clear in our message to the leaders and relevant actors. It is time to unite beyond pride, beyond the afflictions and emotions of the past. Those serve for learning, not for living and flourishing. It is time to place the well-being of their nation above individual ambitions, and it is time to show that they are capable of leading a country responsibly toward a new chapter of stability, prosperity and unity. May this resolution be the catalyst not only of international action but also of the political consensus needed for Haiti to prosper.

We urge this Permanent Council to maintain a stance that enables aid, which must be strategic, targeted and designed to break the cycle of dependence. It must be aid that challenges, that educates and that empowers. The diplomacy of compassion must give way to the diplomacy of concrete action and sustainable development.

To conclude, it is the moment to mobilize resources, define strategies, establish alliances and carry out measures that effectively improve people's lives. The Haitian crisis is a challenge to the human conscience, as it is to the stability and security of our entire hemisphere. We therefore urge all Member States and all relevant actors to act with the urgency the situation demands, thus rediscovering the true meaning of the solidarity and cooperation that lie at the heart of the mission of this Organization.

The history of Haiti is one of survival and resistance. As an international community, our role is not to be perpetual providers, but enablers of the future in which Haiti can rise and carry on by its own means.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.