Madam President, 

At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this meeting. I also welcome the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic at this meeting. I thank the three briefers for their briefings. 

Last week, while the world turned its attention to New York and focused on the UN General Assembly's high-level week, the situation in Haiti went from bad to worse. The Haitian Government abruptly abolished fuel subsidies, and gangs grabbed this chance to stir up trouble, turning civilian protests into large-scale riots. We have seen journalists shot dead, women raped, civilians burned to death, public facilities and businesses forced to close, WFP warehouses looted and burned and Haiti as a whole plunged into anarchy totally out of control. 

As Secretary-General Guterres said at the general debate on September 20, in Haiti, gangs are destroying the very building blocks of society. If the scourge of gangs is not eradicated, Haiti will never see peace. The Secretary-General is about to submit a report to the Council on supporting Haiti in its fight against gangs, which we hope will contain feasible and effective options. 

Security Council Resolution 2645 expresses its readiness to take appropriate measures that could include asset freeze or travel ban measures against those engaged in or supporting gang violence. With the situation in Haiti as it is, it is necessary for the Council to translate this readiness into action. We hope that the US and Mexico, as penholders, will submit a draft resolution as soon as possible and convene consultations so that the Council can make a decision on this issue as scheduled. BINUH should submit a list of criminals gangs and their heads to the Security Council for its consideration when making decisions. 

Security Council Resolution 2645 calls upon Member States to prohibit the transfer of arms to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence in Haiti. With the situation in Haiti as it is, it is necessary for the Council to turn this voluntary measure into a mandatory one, explicitly prohibiting the supply of arms to non-State actors associated with gangs in Haiti. This will help cut off the supply of weapons and ammunition to gangs without prejudice to the security cooperation between Member States and the Haitian police force. We hope that the penholders will include this element in the draft resolution. 

Security Council Resolution 2645 supports Haitian authority in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports. With the situation in Haiti as it is, the Council is expected support Haiti in giving priority to port management and customs reform. We welcome further increased investment in this regard from the international community, UNODC in particular, and strengthened support and cooperation from the relevant countries. We hope that the new draft resolution will also address this point. 

Madam President, 

The UN's work in Haiti for over three decades has proven that international assistance can only play a catalytic, promoting and facilitating role, and that the issue of Haiti can only be resolved by the Haitian people themselves. The political stalemate in Haiti has been ongoing for years, and there is a strong desire for the restoration of constitutional order. We hope that all parties in Haiti will have a stronger sense of urgency, actively carry out political consultations, and establish as soon as possible national institutions that enjoy the real support of the Haitian people and represent their interests. The UN and other regional organizations must continue to play an active role in this regard. I must also point out at the same time that neither the UN nor any organization, any country can go beyond their duties, let alone take sides. We have taken note of the commitment by Prime Minister Henry of the interim government to create the necessary conditions for elections by the end of the year. We look forward to the submission in October of a concrete and credible report to the Council by the Government of Haiti. 

The UN has been in Haiti to offer help. However, for some time, the negative public opinion in Haiti about the UN has been on the rise, which is distressful. We hope that BINUH will do more to reach out with the civilians in Haiti, strive to eliminate the misunderstands, and win their trust and support. BINUH and other UN offices in Haiti cannot work in silos. They should strengthen resource sharing and operational synergy and put the "One-UN" approach into practice. 

Thank you.