C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001426

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL KUNR KPKO UNSC UN HA
SUBJECT: UNSG ANNAN VISITS HAITI, AUGUST 3-4

REF: PAUP 1425

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Ferial Ara Saeed for reas
ons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary. United Nations Secretary General (UNSYG)
Kofi Annan successfully concluded his visit August 3-4 to
Port-au-Prince, meeting with President Preval, Prime Minister
Alexis and selected cabinet Ministers. Weather difficulties
forced the UNSYG to overnight in Port-au-Prince, giving him
time to review MINUSTAH troops (accompanied by President
Preval), and visit a police training center. SRSG Edmond
Mulet told the Ambassador that the UNSYG was exceptionally
pleased with the results of his visit, particularly President
Preval's opening comments at their joint press conference
regarding the need to deal with insecurity, and his strong
support for MINUSTAH and SRSG Mulet. During the press
conference, President Preval thanked Mr. Annan for MINUSTAH's
work and endorsed continued cooperation. In response, Annan
reiterated the UN's commitment to Haiti, stressing that he
had requested that the security council extend MINUSTAH's
mandate by twelve months, instead of the usual six months.
Privately, Preval and Annan agreed a twelve-month renewal to
the MINUSTAH mandate was important in keeping Latin American
contingents committed, particularly Brazil, Chile, and
Argentina. Preval made additional comments to reporters at
the press conference on his preference for "dialogue" and
"peace and reinsertion" to a "military solution" regarding
the gangs in Cite Soleil. Preval's call for dialogue with
the gangs has already generated protests among Haitian
commentators and parliamentarians. End Summary.

Annan in Haiti: Finally
--------------


2. (U) Aircraft difficulties forced UNSYG Annan to postpone
his arrival in Haiti by one day, while weather difficulties

caused by Tropical Storm Chris forced him to stay overnight.
In the process of reconfiguring his agenda, Annan removed a
scheduled visit to parliament (reftel) and allotted more time
to internal MINUSTAH meetings and Haitian cabinet members.
Annan concluded his program with a visit to the police
academy -- to showcase MINUSTAH-Hatian Police (HNP)
cooperation and bolster UN police morale -- and a meeting
with UN troops, accompanied by President Preval, SRSG Mulet
told the Ambassador.


3. (C) According to MINUSTAH staff, Preval pressed Annan for
a twelve-month renewal of mandate, with both sides noting the
danger of declining domestic support for participation in
MINUSTAH from the Latin American contingents, particularly
Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Preval asked for a greater
MINUSTAH role in infrastructure development and social
programs, to which Annan and Mullet responded positively.
Annan pressed the GoH to approve the recently revised
MINUSTAH-HNP cooperation and reform plan, drafted by HNP
Director General Andresol and MINUSTAH police officials.
(MINUSTAH staff reported that subsequent to a further meeting
with Haitian security officials, MINUSTAH and the GOH have
agreed to sign the document by Monday, August 7.) In a
conversation with the Ambassador on the morning of August 4,
Mullet expressed great satisfaction with the visit,
highlighting the support that Preval had expressed publicly
and privately for a major role for MINUSTAH in the coming
year.

UNSYG reportedly pleased with his visit
--------------


4. (C) SRSG Mulet told the Ambassador shortly after the
visit that the UNSYG was extremely pleased with his visit.
Annan was reportedly especially happy with President Preval's
opening comments at their joint press conference regarding
the need to deal with insecurity and his support for
MINUSTAH. (Note: Preval concluded his speech by saying to
the UNSYG: "The situation is not easy, but with the United
Nations' support, we will continue and do our best. We will
take this opportunity to compliment Mr. Juan Gabriel Valdes
for the good work that he did when he was your Special

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Representative here. We will continue working with your new
Special Representative, Mr. Edmond Mulet, and with all the
United Nations team. The situation is not easy, but we will
continue to cooperate with MINUSTAH more and more everyday
for the interest of the Haitian people. Once again, Mr.
Secretary General, we say thank you. Thank you for the

SIPDIS
cooperation. Thank you for this special attention given to
Haiti with this visit. Thank you." End Note).


5. (C) Comment. Despite the high point for MINUSTAH
occasioned by the UNSYG's visit, the mood otherwise in
Port-au-Prince over the past several weeks has been
increasingly gloomy, as frustration with the resurgence in
kidnapping and criminality has grown both among Haitian
elites and average citizens. As has been the case over the
past two and a half years, most have reflexively blamed
MINUSTAH for worsening security conditions, naturally noting
the disparity between MINUSTAH's visible presence on the
ground and its ability to combat crime. Preval's statement
during the joint press conference with Annan that his
government would talk to the gangs to deal with insecurity
has generated considerable attention in the media, while the
Annan visit itself has contributed to speculation and comment
on the proper role of MINUSTAH in combating gang violence.
Still, the combination of Annan's visit and Preval's
accompanying emergence into the line-of-fire in the public
debate on security has, for the moment, raised MINUSTAH's
relative standing among the populace.


SANDERSON