The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Monday welcomed the Security Council’s vote in favor of the “historic resolution”, drafted by her country in conjunction with Ecuador, authorizing the deployment in Haiti of an international force to help the Haitian National Police (HNP) dismantle the armed gangs controlling the capital Port-au-Prince and other regions of the country.
“… Today, we have answered the call of the Haitians,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield told a press conference after the vote, recalling that the Haitian government, Haitian civil society and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had long called for this mission in support of the PNH to help pave the way for long-term stability.
The senior diplomat said that the vote of Resolution 2699 of October 02, 2023 on Haiti is testament to the UN’s ability to galvanize collective action. The text was adopted with 13 votes in favor and 2 abstentions. None of the fifteen members of the Security Council voted against, with Russia and China abstaining.
The US Permanent Representative to the United Nations insisted that steps be taken to prevent potential abuses and to learn from past mistakes. The resolution also states that the mission must operate in strict compliance with international law, and calls for guarantees to promote respect for human rights and accountability.
“We must now work to make the mission operational, and the work has already begun in our countries (the contributors, editor’s note)”, declared Thomas-Greenfield, who thanked Kenya for agreeing to lead the force, and the other countries – a dozen of them – that have said they are ready to take part in the multinational mission to support security in Haiti.
The United States has pledged initial funding of $200 million for the MSS.
“As previously indicated, we intend to work with Congress to provide $100 million in foreign aid, and the Pentagon (Department of Defense) is prepared to provide up to $100 million in support. We continue to work to ensure that the international community also provides funding, equipment, training and personnel to support a truly multinational effort,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement Monday evening.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US is committed to increasing support for this multinational mission. She called on the rest of the community to join her country.
“Other countries need to come forward, because if we act urgently the mission can be deployed in a matter of months, and there’s no time to lose,” encouraged the US diplomat, echoing remarks made by President Joe Biden during his address to the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations held last month. “The Haitian people can wait no longer.
Responding to questions from journalists, the US Permanent Representative to the UN said that her country, accused of failing to act to prevent the flow of arms and ammunition to Haiti, is currently working to find a solution to the problem.
“Continue to stand strong. Hope and expectation are on the way,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations.