At its 6631st meeting, the Security Council has extended this Friday, October 14, 2011, the mandate of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), which was to expire tomorrow, until October 15, 2012.

Recognizing that the overall security situation in Haiti, while fragile, had improved in the year since a powerful earthquake struck the tiny island nation, the Security Council today extended until 15 October 2012 the mandate of the Minustah. By the resolution 2012 (2011), adopted unanimously by its 15 members, the Council also decided that the Minustah would consist of up to 7,340 troops of all ranks and a police component of up to 3,241 thus responding to the recommendations made by the Secretary General in his report.

According to that report, the Secretary-General expresses confidence that a partial drawdown of the Mission's post-earthquake "surge" military and police capabilities would be unlikely to undermine progress made so far on the security front. He, therefore, recommends reducing the Mission's authorized military strength by 1,600 personnel and reducing the authorized police strength by 1,150 formed police unit officers, to be completed by June 2012.

By the resolution adopted today, the Council called on all the relevant political actors in Haiti, in particular the executive and legislative branches, to engage in an effective dialogue towards a political agreement that would consolidate a concrete forward agenda for progress in key areas, such as Haiti's security, budget, recovery and development priorities, elections and electoral reform, including the participation of women in the electoral processes and the completion of constitutional reform.

The Council also expressed its intention to renew the mission's mandate beyond 2012, and affirmed that future adjustments to the MINUSTAH force configuration should be based on the overall security situation on the ground. It would take into account the impact of social and political realities on Haiti's stability and security, the increasing capacity of Haitian State capabilities, including the ongoing strengthening of its National Police, and the national authorities' increasing exercise of Haitian State responsibility for the maintenance of stability and security in the country.

HL/ HaitiLibre