PORT-AU-PRINCE (CMC): The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Miroslav Jenča, has ended a four-day visit to Haiti, where he held talks with Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry and other stakeholders on the troubled French-speaking Caribbean CARICOM country.
Jenča, who is the ASG for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas for the Department of Political and Peace building Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations, also met with members of the High Transitional Council, and representatives of a wide range of political parties and civil society actors.
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A UN statement said that Jenča also also met with the acting Director-General of the Haitian National Police to discuss UN Security Council resolution 2699, which authorised a non-UN Multinational Security Support mission to assist Haiti´s efforts against gang violence.
The statement said Jenča called for progress in the political process hand in hand with the deployment of the non-UN Multinational Security Support mission and reiterated the United Nation’s support to the CARICOM efforts to facilitate the intra-Haitian dialogue.
“Assistant Secretary-General Jenča stressed the need for the Haitian National Police to remain in the lead in the fight against armed gangs and for close coordination with the non-UN Multinational Security Support mission.
“He underscored the importance of respecting human rights in law enforcement and noted that improving security must go together with the promotion and protection of all human rights, whether civil and political – or economic, social and cultural,” the statement added.
It said, moreover, he underlined the collective responsibility of all actors to particularly protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including women and youth.
He noted also that the UN is stepping up its support to the Haitian National Police through its special political mission, BINUH, and stressed the need for an enhanced and effective coordination mechanism among all donors supporting the police.
Regarding the situation on the border, the assistant secretary-general called for continuing dialogue between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to reach bilateral negotiated solutions.
The two countries make up the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, but last month, the Dominican Republic closed its land, air and sea borders with Haiti as the two countries continue to be at odds over the construction of an irrigation canal in Haiti.
Water from the canal comes from the Massacre River which flows between the two countries.
President Luis Abinader defended his decision, saying that the border closure will continue until the construction of the canal is suspended.
