Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, the Spokeswoman of the Minustah, announced that the 15 members of the UN Security Council will be in Haiti from February 13 to 16.

"...the Council has confirmed its arrival next week for a visit of several days, until Thursday, February 16 [...] the 15 members of the Council whose the 5 permanent [China, U.S., France, UK, Russia] and 10 non-permanent [elected for two years and renewed by half every year] will be in Haiti from Monday 13 to meet the authorities and assess the situation on the ground, political of course but also the security situation and reconstruction efforts, as well as the mandate of the Minsutah.

The Council will also conduct a field visit to be aware of some programs implemented by the Minustah including the support to the police, justice system, institution building [...] the delegation should be led by Susan Rice, a high-level representative of the United States, we will also have several Ambassadors of the permanent members and nonpermanent including: South Africa, Germany, Colombia, Guatemala, Morocco, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Togo, the Azerbaijan...

[...] The Council always comes on its own initiative [not by invitation] but in coordination with host country authorities [...] this visit was closely coordinated with the authorities and with the United Nations on the ground. The last visit made by the Security Council was in October 2010, before the electoral process, it is also a visit to assess the evolution of the stabilization after the electoral process and the installation of the new authorities..."

During their stay, the members of the Security Council, will meet with President Michel Martelly, the Prime Minister, Dr. Garry Conille and representatives of civil society.

S/ HaitiLibre