(United Nations) China on Thursday called on the UN to “intensify its political mediation efforts” in Haiti, a country without a president for almost a year, without a parliament for two and a half years and endowed with a judicial sector. almost paralyzed.
Posted at 10:04 p.m.
“Over the past 30 years, the UN has made tremendous efforts and invested enormous resources to help Haiti. But the security and humanitarian situation in the country has gone from bad to worse, the population continuing to suffer”, denounced the Chinese ambassador, Zhang Jun, before the Security Council.
“The focus must be on the political process, pushing Haiti to get out of the political impasse as quickly as possible” and the UN political mission called Binuh must “increase its sense of urgency”, he added.
In October, Beijing, exasperated by the lack of progress in Haiti, the backyard of the United States, threatened to use its veto against an American draft resolution renewing the Binuh mission for one year. In extremis, a compromise had made it possible to extend his mandate for nine months, expiring on July 15.
According to Western diplomats, the recognition of Taiwan by Haiti partly explains the activism of Chinese diplomacy with regard to this country.
“Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can […] play a greater role in supporting peace and development in Haiti,” said Zhang Jun as the United States enlisted the services of Mexico, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, to draft the next resolution. on Haiti.
Without going too far on what should be done, his American counterpart, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, recalled that the UN Secretary General had come out in favor of an extended mandate of one year and more. efficient.
“While the Binuh and a strong UN presence in Haiti are essential, they do not replace meaningful reforms that can only be undertaken by Haitian leaders,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
UN envoy to Haiti, Helen La Lime, a former American diplomat, said that “more than ever, Haiti needs immediate help to develop its national police and fight against growing crime and violence”. “The Haitian police currently lack the human, material and financial resources to effectively fulfill their mandate,” she added, calling on UN member states to develop it.
Haiti has been, for months, under the rule of gangs whose hold has extended far beyond the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. The assassination of its president Jovenel Moïse almost a year ago has plunged the poorest country in the Americas even further into uncertainty about its future.