(Check Against Delivery)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yoshifumi Okamura
Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan
to the United Nations, Chargé d’Affaires
At the Security Council Debate on MINUSTAH
18 March 2015
Mr. President,
I would like to express my appreciation to you for chairing this debate. I would also like to commend Ms. Sandra Honoré, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for MINUSTAH, for her invaluable contribution to the Mission. I thank her for her comprehensive briefing. Furthermore, I’d like to pay tribute to the men and women of MINUSTAH for the commitment and fortitude they have demonstrated under difficult circumstances.
Mr. President,
We welcome the Secretary-General’s report issued on 4 March on MINUSTAH. Although various challenges persist, we are very pleased to see progress and positive signs in the stabilization and recovery process in Haiti. We recognize that developments in the political process, which include the realization of long-overdue elections, the increase in the capacity of the Haitian National Police, the 50 percent reduction in new cases of cholera last year and so forth, are the result of effort by the Haitian authorities, its people and the international community, including MINUSTAH. Japan is proud to see these improvements in Haiti since it has dispatched approximately 2,200 Self Defense Forces personnel to the country.
Mr. President,
Particularly in relation to political developments in Haiti, Japan highly appreciates the firm progress that has been made so far. Examples include the establishment of the new provisional Electoral Council in January, the promulgation of the electoral decree by the President of Haiti on 2 March and the announcement of electoral dates on 11 March. Japan strongly hopes that the elections will be realized in a just and transparent manner.
From this point of view, the Government of Japan signed a document with UNDP on 11 March, to provide assistance in the amount of approximately 4.5 million dollars to help with elections in a smooth manner. We also expect this project will contribute to nation-building which includes a democracy, respect for the rule of law and a stable peace.
Mr. President,
We welcome the resolution passed last October which allows the drawdown of MINUSTAH’s forces and police component levels.
Human and financial resources that the UN can invest in PKO missions are limited. It is imperative we reduce the size of missions when firm progress is made, because the need to create new missions and reinforce others exists. The success of a PKO mission means that it has created an environment in which it is no longer needed.
In closing, I would like to say that Japan counts on the continuous and strong leadership of SRSG, Ms. Sandra Honoré, so that MINUSTAH can achieve “success” in the context I just mentioned, by accomplishing its mandate, which includes assistance with the upcoming elections.
I thank you.
