Remarks by Ambassador Dai Bing at the UN Security Council Briefing on on BINUH |
2022-02-18 18:00 |
Mr. President, I thank Special Representative Helen La Lime for her briefing. Over the past four months, the crisis in Haiti has continued to simmer. The internal political division has further intensified. The constitutional referendum and the presidential election are a long way off. Gang violence remains rampant. The judicial system reform has been slow, and economic difficulties and fiscal deficits have deteriorated, causing widespread concern from the international community and regional countries. China calls on Haitian political leaders with a heightened sense of urgency to earnestly take on the responsibility of governing the country, so that its people can enjoy a decent and stable life at an early date. Mr. President, A stable political structure is a prerequisite for the resolution of the Haitian crisis. It is ultimately up to the Haitian people to resolve the issues facing the country. Without a competent government widely recognized by its people, nothing else can be achieved. All parties in Haiti should start an inclusive dialogue as soon as possible, reach an agreement on political arrangements for the transitional period, and come up with a realistic and feasible electoral plan and timetable. Gang violence remains the primary challenge to the security situation in Haiti. We note with concern that over the past four months, kidnappings for ransom have surged by 180% year on year, and intentional homicides up by 17% year on year. Solving gang violence requires curing both the symptoms and the root causes. It is essential to improve the professional capabilities of the police to protect the safety of the people and effectively combat gang activities. It is also crucial to cut off the channels for gangs to illegally obtain weapons and funds. The profit chain between political forces and gangsters has to be cut off. Alleviating the humanitarian crisis and stabilizing the economic situation are urgent tasks facing Haiti. More than 40% of the Haitian people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. There are 4.4 million people facing food insecurity due to the impact of the earthquake last August, and 19,000 people have been displaced by violence. We take note of the International event for the Financing of the Reconstruction of the Southern Peninsula of Haiti held recently, and hope the international community will continue to provide humanitarian and economic assistance to Haiti. Meanwhile, we should also note that Haiti has not yet established an effective economic governance system. The great loss of tax revenues, including custom duties, seriously limits the government's ability to provide basic public services. Haiti must overcome institutional barriers to economic governance. This is essential to sustainable development. Mr. President, Last October, the Security Council adopted a resolution on the extension of the mandate of BINUH. The Secretary-General is requested to submit an assessment report on the mandate of BINUH to the Security Council within six months. This provides an important opportunity for us to review and reflect on the work of BINUH, and modify its mandate given the development on the ground, so as to assist the Haitian people in a more efficient way. Innovative ways should be explored to help Haiti overcome the systematic and structural obstacles to peace and development, so that the Haitian people will not miss out on peace and development again. Over the years the UN system has provided Haiti with huge amounts of development assistance, but it has not achieved desired effect. Looking into the future, BINUH and the UNRC for Haiti should enhance coordination and play their parts in joint efforts with the ECOSOC, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank among others, so as to have more synergy effect. China supports the UN Peacebuilding Committe to play a greater role on the Haitian issue. The Security Council may invite the PBC to provide advice on Haiti. Haiti is a member of the Latin American and Caribbean family. Regional countries and organizations have the best knowledge of Haiti's national conditions and are in a better position to play a constructive role. China supports regional countries and organizations’ efforts in promoting dialogue among the Haitian people. We welcome countries concerned to assist Haiti in building police and judicial capacity, cracking down drugs and arms trafficking, and illicit financial flows. We also believe that regional countries could step up their efforts as well. China stands ready to work with members of the Security Council and parties concerned to explore the best way to provide pragmatic, effective and sustainable support to Haiti. So that Haiti will embark on the road of independent development at an early date. Thank you, Mr. President. |