The Haitian government urged the UN Security Council on Sunday against cutting its troop presence in the nation before crucial elections.
Haitian Minister of Justice and Public Safety Pierre-Richard Casimir made the request to visiting UN envoys from the council’s member nations as they visited Haiti’s only police academy.
“I urge the Security Council to not reduce the number of MINUSTAH [the French acronym for the peacekeeping mission in Haiti] troops during the electoral process,” Casimir said. “On the contrary, their presence is needed to reinforce the UN mission’s contingents during preparations to hold elections.”
Photo: AFP
Haitians have been waiting for new elections for three years.
President Michel Martelly has been ruling by decree since the legislature was dissolved earlier this month, making him the sole leader of a nation that remains on edge, with sometimes violent opposition protests.
TAKING STEPS
“In Haiti, like elsewhere, the electoral period is sometimes marked by tension and discord,” Casimir said, adding that the Haitian government was taking all necessary measures to ensure the elections go smoothly.
Casimir, who was recently named to his ministerial post, referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2180, which calls for the global body to adapt its troop presence to the situation on the ground.
“In the name of the president, the head of government and myself, I reiterate to the United Nations Security Council our request that it maintain its troop levels,” the minister said.
‘TOO EARLY’
Asked about the Haitian request, Chilean UN Ambassador Cristian Barros Melet, who also holds the rotating council presidency, said it was too early for the international peace and security body to make a decision.
US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said that the Haitian national police force had improved and increased its ranks.
In October last year, the council renewed MINUSTAH’s mandate for a year, but halved its force to 2,370 soldiers due to improved security conditions. The police force was maintained at 2,600 officers.
The UN ambassadors ended their three-day visit on Sunday.
QUAKE MEMORIAL
Before boarding their airplane, Power and Barros Melet left flowers on a memorial for victims of a January 2010 earthquake that reduced much of the capital to rubble.
Power and Barros Melet reiterated their call for elections to be held as soon as possible.
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