Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at a UNSC Briefing on Haiti
Mr. President,
First of all, we would like to thank Guyana for its flawless presidency of the Security Council in June. And I’m sure we will say the same about the Pakistani presidency in August. We wish them every success in the meantime.
We would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Executive Director of the UNDP Ghada Waly for their briefings on the situation in Haiti. We welcome the participation in our meeting today of the foreign minister of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Teodoro Álvarez Gil, as well as representatives of Haiti, Kenya and Barbados.
Mr. President,
July 7 will mark four years since the tragic assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which is something that triggered the country's descent into the deepest crisis in its modern history. Four years on, we still have no clear picture of what happened, who ordered the assassination and benefited from it. Neither Haiti nor the international community feels certain about it. The crime itself and the way it was investigated essentially encapsulate the problems facing this long-suffering country: everything is in place – external interference, inaction by the authorities, intimidation of judges, escape of suspects, and even multiple changes in venue and time of hearings due to gangs advancing to new and new areas of the capital of Haiti. The lack of clear outcome of the investigation and the failure to punish those responsible has become a symbol of lawlessness in the eyes of Haitians, and this lawlessness permeates the entire Haitian society.
The multifaceted crisis in the country threatens the very integrity of the Haitian state. Haiti has been long devoid of democratically elected representatives, and the transitional institutions – despite the measures they are undertaking – have failed to gain the trust of society and ensure the country's return to constitutional path of development. Plans to hold a constitutional referendum and national elections by February 2026 appear increasingly unrealistic.
It is clear that when the State loses control over the territory, chaos reigns, and organized crime comes to rule the day. In a number of areas of the capital and the Artibonite department, gangs have basically established a parallel system of government, wherein instead of laws they pursue lawlessness, instead of justice – executions and torture, while resorting to extortion and fearmongering as the main tools to control the population. Under these conditions, the UN can but document the progressive deterioration of the security situation, which manifests itself, inter alia, in an increased number of murders and cases of sexual violence, as well as in a record high of internally displaced persons and those in need of humanitarian assistance.
Mr. President,
Russia has consistently maintained that deciding on a strategy and implementing a plan to resolve the problems in Haiti is primarily the responsibility of the authorities and people of that country. At the same time, active international assistance, especially in the area of security, is something that Port-au-Prince needs now, and more than ever.
Unfortunately, the existing mechanisms of international support are not working properly. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti has encountered all the problems that we had predicted even before the mission was established, which is due to the poorly designed financial, human, and logistical support mechanisms of this non-UN entity. The UN Secretary-General has proposed clear ideas for strengthening the MSS capacity, and we are ready to consider them constructively.
At the same time, we emphasize – and it is pointed out in the report by Antonio Guterres as well – that it is increasing voluntary funding for the MSS to Haiti that should remain a top priority for us. Donor countries, who promoted this initiative and tried to convince others that it was a cure-all, must finally uphold their financial commitments. We do believe that, with adequate support for their efforts and increased troop levels, the multinational forces can still become a powerful factor in stabilizing the situation in the country. Otherwise, the MSS risks becoming yet another instrument incapable of realizing its potential, which would be disgraceful for the UN Security Council, especially vis-à-vis Kenya who fulfilled in good faith its promises and came to the assistance of the brotherly Haitian people.
In this context, we note the growing intention of regional countries to lend a helping hand to the Haitians: the resolution adopted at the recent General Assembly of the Organization of American States points clearly out that the countries of the continent are willing to assist the MSS to Haiti and contribute to long-term stabilization in that country.
As for the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, whose mandate is to expire in two weeks, the efforts of this special political mission are undoubtedly still needed. We note the ongoing work to adapt the modalities of the work of the Office so that – with fewer personnel but with enhanced security measures for the staff in Port-au-Prince – it can carry out the mission's key tasks of promoting political dialogue and assisting the Haitian authorities. In this context, we would like to thank Maria Salvador, Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, whose term of office expired this week, for her conscientious service.
Mr. President,
While international support for Port-au-Prince remains insufficient, Haitians are desperately trying to find their own way out of the catastrophic situation in which they have found themselves. All possible options are being called into play, including contracts with Western military companies and security agencies. We understand the level of desperation behind such decisions, but we are concerned by the involvement of foreign armed actors whose activities are unchecked and often go hand in hand with violations of human rights and international sanctions. Particularly worrisome are cases of indiscriminate use of combat-capable drones in urban areas, as well as the participation of foreign companies in arms trafficking.
The government (which is responsible for the lion's share of illegal arms shipments to the island) is well-advised to take more decisive measures to enforce the embargo imposed by the UNSC rather than participate in smuggling and seek to profit from the attractive security market. As long as gangsters in Haiti have unhindered access to weapons and ammunition of all calibers, it is virtually impossible to stop crime spreading throughout the country and curb the threat it poses to the security of the entire region.
Thank you.
