SC/8354
11 April 2005

UN Security Council to Visit Haiti, 13 – 16 April

NEW YORK, 8 April (UN Headquarters) -- All 15 members of the United Nations Security Council will travel to Haiti from 13 to 16 April to review progress achieved in areas such as security, development, the political transition, human rights, institution-building and the humanitarian situation.

The Council’s mission will be carried out in conjunction with the mission of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti of the Economic and Social Council, which is being conducted from 12 to 16 April.

The Security Council mission will be headed by Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations.

The Council mission will assess the level of coordination of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in each aspect of its mandate, and between the capital and the outlying regions of Haiti; review progress achieved in areas such as security, development, the political transition and the humanitarian situation; and convey the message that the Security Council fully supports MINUSTAH and the United Nations presence in Haiti as long as necessary, and underscore the long-term commitment of the international community to stabilization and development in Haiti.

The composition of the mission and details of the Council’s programme in Haiti will be made available as soon as they are finalized.

Journalists interested in travelling together with the Security Council mission to Haiti should contact Ari Gaitanis, in the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, at tel.:  (917) 367 5818.

* *** *