Security Council to make supporting and assessment visit next week to Haiti

The United Nations Security Council is set to visit Haiti next week to emphasize the international community's commitment to long-term stabilization and development and assess the Caribbean country's security, humanitarian and development needs.

The Council delegation would "express its full support for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and for the United Nations presence in Haiti as long as necessary," Brazilian Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, who will lead the group, said in a recent letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In that regard, the Council would call for improved coordination between the Transitional Government, in its leading role, and MINUSTAH to ensure security, Mr. Sardenberg said, and would "convey the determination of the Security Council to see that all pledged funds are promptly disbursed."

The Council would also look at actions the Transitional Government and MINUSTAH should take to implement a national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme "that addresses all illegal armed groups in a comprehensive manner, including its legal basis."

The Security Council's mission will be in the country from 13 to 16 April and be held in conjunction with the mission of the Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti.