STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. SULTAN AL-MAHMOUD, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE STATE OF QATAR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 7 (D) OF ECOSOC: COORDINATION, PROGRAMME AND OTHER QUESTIONS: LONG-TERM PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT FOR HAITI (New York, 15 July 2004)

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of G-77/China welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the long-term programme of support for Haiti. The Group shares the view that a long-term effort and a renewed international commitment are needed to rebuild the economic and social structure of the country and help the Government and people of Haiti in building and strengthening institutional capacity. In that regard, it seems quite evident that the existing programme of support for Haiti must be reinvigorated.

As pointed out in the Secretary-General's report, it must be recalled that the process was initiated by Security Council resolution 1212 (1198) of 25 November 1998, which called upon the Economic and Social Council to contribute to the development of a long-term programme of support for Haiti. The Council, on the basis of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti it had established by Resolution 1999/4, decided to request the Secretary-General to develop, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, a long-term strategy and programme of support in such areas as education, peace-building, poverty eradication, social integration, productive employment, trade, durable recovery and sustainable development, aimed particularly at reinforcing capacity-building objectives in both government and civil society institutions. This was done through resolution 1999/11 and since then, a report on the implementation of that resolution has been submitted to the Council at each subsequent substantive session. Let me reiterate the understanding of the Group that, on the basis of the information provided by the Secretary General's report and of the situation on the ground, this process must be reinvigorated in order to ensure that the long-term programme of support duly reflect the present situation and correctly address the current challenges.

It must also be recalled that the establishment of a core group by Security Council Resolution 1542 (2004) of 30 April 2004 was a positive step in providing assistance to Haiti. The core group was mandated to facilite the implementation of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)'s mandate, to promote interaction with the Haitian authorities as partners, and to enhance the effectiveness of the international community's response in Haiti, as outlined in the Secretary General's report to the Security Council of 16 April 2004.

However, through the same Resolution 1542 (2004), the Security Council "emphasizes the need for Member States, United nations organs, bodies and agencies and other international organizations, in particular OAS and CARICOM, other regional and subregional organizations, international financial institutions and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the promotion of the social and economic development of Haiti, in particular for the long-term, in order to achieve and sustain stability and combat poverty". In that context, it "Urges all the above-mentioned stakeholders, in particular the United Nations organs, bodies and agencies to assist the Transitional Government of Hati in the design of a long-term development strategy to this effect".

The Group of 77 is of the opinion that ECOSOC must heed this call by reinforcing the implementation of the long-term programme of support of Haiti launched by resolution 1999/11. The Group of 77 therefore proposes to reactivate the Ad Hoc Advisory Group which was established back in 1999, the recommendations of which served as the basis for action taken so far. Building on the results achieved so far and with a view to providing advice on further action needed to respond to the present challenges in Haiti, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group should be mandated to examine the humanitarian and economic needs of Haiti, review relevant assistance programmes and prepare recommendations for a long-term programme of support, based on the development priorities of the country, through the integration of relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development into a comprehensive approach to peace and stability, also providing advice to ensure that the assistance of the international community in support of Haiti is adequate, coherent, well coordinated and effective.

The composition of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group should be limited yet flexible, allowing for the participation of countries that can make a positive contribution to the objectives sought. It should, on the other hand, seek to coordinate with the core group established pursuant to Resolution 1542, in order to avoid duplication and promote synergy. The Group of 77 indeed thinks that through the reactivation of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group and the refinement of the long-term programme of support pursued so far, the overall objectives sought through relevant documents adopted so far, in particular Security Council resolution 1542 (2004) will be achieved in a coordinated, participative and effective manner.

Finally, it must be stressed that, according to the Secretary General's report, the Transitional Government of Haiti has indeed requested the establishment of such a group by ECOSOC. The active involvement of the Haitian authorities is indeed a prerequisite for any successful outcome and the Group expresses its satisfaction in view of the fact that conditions are gathered to ensure the active involvement of the Transitional Government in that endeavor.

Thank you.