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M. President, Nous tenons à exprimer notre gratitude à la Représentante spéciale du Secrétaire général Madame Sandra Honoré et son équipe ainsi qu’à la MINUSTAH pour leur travail  qui a contribué d’une manière extraordinaire à la paix et la stabilité en Haïti. Un progrès important atteint depuis le tremblement de terre inspire l'espoir. Nous espérons vivement que très bientôt le gouvernement haïtien reprenne  le plein contrôle et  l'ONU puisse assumer un rôle différent. Mr. President, Lithuania aligns itself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union. On my part, I would like to underline the following points: inclusive elections, rule of law, and institution building.

This February, five years after the earthquake, the Council paid a visit to a country that continues to consolidate gains in stability and democracy. Few people today are without shelter, water or access to social services. More children go to school. Significant steps have been taken to improve governance and strengthen the rule of law. The launching of the Haiti Transitional appeal for 2015-2016 aimed at addressing social and economic inequalities will hopefully lead to further normalization.

An inclusive and transparent political process is a necessary prerequisite for sustainable peace and stability on the island. We welcome the appointment of the Provisional Electoral Council and the decision, albeit a late one, to hold a set of elections this year. We appreciate the strong commitment by President Martelly to ensure that the elections are credible, independent, transparent and inclusive. It is essential to stick to the proposed electoral calendar and for all the stakeholders, including from the opposition, to overcome their differences. The future of Haiti depends on the inclusivity of the electoral process.

Mr. President,

When the Council met in Port-au-Prince with at the newly appointed ministers, we were inspired by their ambitious plans and their appreciation of the immense challenges ahead.

Among the challenges, the most preeminent one remains  that of strengthening the rule of law which is at the core of further progress in unlocking the country’s economic and social potential.

Strengthening of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, including certification of judges, has been one of the steps towards the much needed reform of the judicial system. Independence of the judiciary should be further strengthened. More needs to be done, including addressing pre-trial detention, overcrowded corrections institutions, and protection of human rights.

There is a need to further improve the operational capacity of the Office of the Ombudsman. The engagement of stakeholders on human rights reporting is a welcome step. The human rights need to be in the focus of the new government. Accountability for the human rights abuses must be ensured. We encourage Haiti to continue reviewing the Penal Code in order to adequately address gender-based violence.

Mr. President,

In April, Haiti’s national police will be over 13000 strong. It will be less dependent on MINUSTAH, with more authority and more confidence. The capacity and performance of the Haiti National Police has improved significantly. We look forward to more police deploying outside the Port-au-Prince metropolis, and to continued efforts to increase accountability, build trust and confidence with the population. Strengthening of the Inspectorate General, vetting of police officers and community outreach programmes are welcome steps in that regard.

Increased capacity of the Haitian National Police and making full use of the level of troops, as authorised by SC Resolution 2180, should enable the Haitian authorities to maintain law and order during the upcoming elections.

As armed violence continues to plague the country, the MINUSTAH community violence reduction programme has been key to dismantling  criminal gangs and  allowing development actors to reach  what were previously "no go" areas. Offering economic alternatives is an essential element of preventing gang recruitment. At the same time, the UN and Haiti’s Government need to focus on addressing the proliferation of small arms, countering drug trafficking and arms smuggling.

Mr. President,

The upcoming elections, stronger rule of law institutions, and a committed government portend a new chapter in the history of Haiti. The UN will continue to render indispensable support during this crucial year.  The consolidation of MINUSTAH mandate and its forthcoming reconfiguration should aim at enabling the UN to continue assisting the Haitian people in targeted areas. International efforts should focus now on addressing social, economic and increasingly developmental issues. The states of the region should play a more vocal role. The EU, one of the largest donors, will continue to support institutional reforms, increasing the financial capacity of the state, promoting tax reform, among other goals.

In conclusion, let me again express our deep gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, MINUSTAH troop and police contributing countries, as well as to the UN Country Office in Haiti.