HAITI: COUNCIL ENDORSES MULET'S LEADERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000441 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO HA SUBJECT: HAITI: COUNCIL ENDORSES MULET'S LEADERSHIP Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, per 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. During closed UNSC consultations on Haiti on May 30, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Edmund Mulet hailed recent GOH/MINUSTAH success in combating gangs and securing Cite Soleil, but warned that the international community must "stay the course" and avoid a "premature withdrawal" to cement these gains. He pledged to provide the Council with recommendations on strengthening Haiti's governance, security, institution-building, and social and economic development in the next SYG's report due September 1, 2007. Council members, led by Ambassador Wolff, expressed strong support for Mulet and MINUSTAH's gains on security. They agreed the situation in Haiti remains fragile and that the international community must remain engaged. Several delegations emphasized the importance of justice reform and enhanced security along Haiti's coastline. At the end of consultations, the Council adopted a press statement expressing support for MINUSTAH and urging increased efforts on rule of law reform. (Note: Text of press statement e-mailed to WHA and IO. End Note.) In a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad on May 30, Mulet said the UN should remain in Haiti for at least the next four years to train at least 14,000 Haitian National Police (HNP) officers. Mulet appealed for a one-year extension of MINUSTAH's mandate in October 2007 and said Chinese PermRep Wang -- who threatened to veto MINUSTAH's mandate in February 2007 over concerns about Haiti's relationship with Taiwan -- had displayed a "positive and constructive" approach in a bilateral discussion with Mulet on May 30. End Summary. Mulet Outlines Priorities -------------- ¶2. (C) While hailing recent GOH/MINUSTAH success in combating gangs and securing Cite Soleil, Mulet emphasized that it is now crucial for the international community to "stay the course" in Haiti by redoubling its efforts rather than contemplating a "premature withdrawal." (Note: USUN e-mailed Mulet's prepared remarks to WHA and IO. End Note.) Explaining that MINUSTAH is in the midst of a progress review, Mulet pledged to present the Council recommendations in the SYG's next report (expected September 1, 2007) in four areas: strengthening governance, maintaining security and stability, reinforcing institutions of law and order, and enhancing the social and economic fabric. Mulet noted MINUSTAH's recent success against armed gangs -- he said over 700 gang members had been captured over the past three months -- but he lamented the inability of Haiti's justice system to deal with these figures once they are arrested. In particular, he decried how gangster Tie Bazil had bribed a judge to secure his release shortly after he was first arrested, only to kill two people afterwards. Asked whether MINUSTAH could assist Haiti in securing its maritime borders, Mulet said Uruguay and Peru might be willing to lend the UN boats it could use to patrol Haiti's lengthy and unmonitored shores. ¶3. (C) Mulet also met bilaterally with Ambassadors Khalilzad and Wolff on May 30. Asked by Ambassador Khalilzad for a rough timeline for Haiti to assume more responsibility over its own affairs, Mulet suggested that the UN would need to stay for at least four more years to train at least 14,000 HNP officers to provide minimum security across the country. The international community, however, would need to remain committed to Haiti's reconstruction for a period of decades. Mulet said MINUSTAH would remain engaged in the fight against armed gangs. He expressed satisfaction that threats and shots fired against MINUSTAH personnel had declined significantly in the past two months as a result of GOH/MINUSTAH anti-gang efforts in Cite Soleil. Mulet warned that nationalistic sentiment in Haiti could rise if MINUSTAH and the GOH fall short on their responsibility to ensure law and order. Asked how the Council could assist his efforts, Mulet appealed for MINUSTAH's mandate to be extended for one year and noted that PRC PermRep Wang had been "positive and constructive" about MINUSTAH's future during Mulet's bilateral meeting with him on May 30. Mulet also said he would remain with MINUSTAH for another year. In a separate conversation May 31, the Chinese polcouns told USUN that China fully supported MINUSTAH as long as Haiti maintained an appropriate posture on the issue of Taiwan. UNSC Strongly Endorses MINUSTAH Efforts -------------- ¶4. (C) Commending Mulet for his leadership, Ambassador Wolff noted that the liberation of Cite Soleil from gang control is a testament to the courage of the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH. MINUSTAH's efforts to tackle gang violence should serve as a model for UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. Ambassador Wolff emphasized, however, that the recent gains USUN NEW Y 00000441 002 OF 002 in security are not irreversible and urged the GOH and MINUSTAH to maintain pressure on the remnants of criminal gangs. He underscored the importance of reform of the HNP, the justice and corrections systems, and intensified anti-drug trafficking efforts. Ambassador Wolff asked whether MINUSTAH could do more to assist Haiti with its anti-drug and border control efforts. Noting that MINUSTAH would be expected to provide security and logistics support for Haiti's fall 2007 senate elections, he also urged Mulet to press the GOH to establish a Permanent Electoral Council soon. In conclusion, Ambassador Wolff emphasized that the depth and breadth of the challenges in Haiti mean that the country will require long-term assistance from the UNSC, troop contributors, and donors. ¶5. (C) While welcoming GOH/MINUSTAH efforts against gangs in Cite Soleil and elsewhere, most delegations noted that the situation in Haiti remains fragile and that the international community must do more, not less, to support Haiti's transition. Peru, Panama, and France joined Ambassador Wolff in praising Mulet's leadership specifically. The same delegations underscored the importance of justice reform and enhanced border controls as a means to combat drug trafficking. The Latin American and African delegations called on the international community to do more to support Haiti's long-term development. Indonesia and South Africa urged MINUSTAH to intensify its support for political dialogue and national reconciliation. China joined other delegations in characterizing the situation in Haiti as "fragile." While MINUSTAH should continue to combat gangs and ensure law and order, the Chinese representative noted that the UN should focus more on long-term development -- with Haiti assuming primary responsibility for its own governance. In its intervention, the UK argued that MINUSTAH should no longer implement quick impact projects (QUIPS) funded through the UN budget, given that QUIPS are designed only for the first two years of a PKO and MINUSTAH has now existed for three. KHALILZAD