UN envoy Bill Clinton begins first visit to Haiti in his new role

The recently appointed United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti, the former United States president Bill Clinton, will today begin his first visit to the Caribbean country in his new capacity.

During his three-day visit, Mr. Clinton is expected to meet with a series of senior Government officials to discuss how best the international community can support their efforts to better prepare for hurricanes, generate new jobs and enhance the delivery of basic social services.

He is also going to examine how the UN, civil society and the international donor community can better align their efforts with the Haitian Government’s recovery plan and with each other, according to a note issued by his office.

Last month Mr. Clinton laid out his vision to advance development in Haiti, telling a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York that the country, more than ever before, has an opportunity to progress.

“Haiti, notwithstanding the total devastation wreaked by the four storms last year, has the best chance to escape the darker aspects of its history in the 35 years that I have been going there,” he said.

Mr. Clinton has already visited Haiti this year, but this will be his first trip to the impoverished State since his appointment as an envoy by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May. In March the two men visited Haiti together to assess the situation in the wake of the devastating hurricanes that struck in quick succession in 2008.