BILL CLINTON WRAPS UP FIRST VISIT TO HAITI AS UN SPECIAL ENVOY

Former United States President Bill Clinton is wrapping up a three-day visit to Haiti today, his first since being appointed United Nations Special Envoy for the impoverished Caribbean nation.

During a visit to the country in March, Mr. Clinton and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon assessed the situation in the wake of four back-to-back tropical storms that battered the country in 2008, killing nearly 800 people and affecting an estimated 1 million people.

Mr. Clinton's current trip was aimed at discussing how to support Government efforts to brace the country for hurricanes, generate new jobs and boost the delivery of basic social services.

Today he met with representatives of the private sector, women's groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and discussed the key challenges facing them today in Haiti. The meetings aimed to ensure private sector investments in the country, coordination of NGO activities and the inclusion of women in recovery efforts.

Last night, Mr. Clinton and President René Préval had a working dinner with donors to encourage them to honour the commitments they made at a pledging conference in Washington, D.C. in April and align their contributions to the Government's recovery plan.

The dinner capped off a day that included visits to, among others, the city of Gonaïves, which was devastated by floods last year, and to an emergency hospital that has temporarily replaced one destroyed by hurricanes.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, with an annual estimated gross domestic product (per capita) of $390.
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SOME PROGRESS IN HAITI AMID SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT DIFFICULTIES – UN TEAM

SOME PROGRESS IN HAITI AMID SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT DIFFICULTIES – UN TEAM
New York, May 14 2009 4:00PM
The challenge facing Haiti of achieving stability and economic recovery remains great, especially after a year of damaging setbacks, but the impoverished nation has seen significant progress in the last two years, the head of a United Nations team that visited the country said today.

"Last year was an extraordinarily difficult year for the country with the devastation wrought by four hurricanes, the rise in food prices and of oil prices," Ambassador John McNee of Canada told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York

But he noted that the improving security situation and the continued recruitment and training of the Haitian national police were encouraging signs for the future.

"The public opinion polls in Haiti recently suggested very considerable confidence amongst the populace in the police," stressed Mr. McNee, who led the Ad Hoc Advisory Group of the Economic and Social Council (<"http://www.un.org/ecosoc/">ECOSOC) on a four-day trip to Haiti in early May.

The group's main task was to assess progress towards economic and social development and reinforce the UN's long-term commitment to the people of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

The ECOSOC delegation also examined the procedures for the coordination of international aid to Haiti, and Mr. McNee urged donors and aid organizations to ensure their assistance is consistent with the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty Document.

He highlighted meetings with President René Préval and Prime Minister Michèle Pierre-Louis, who he said are "determined to try and take the country forward."

A broad partnership that includes the Government and people of Haiti, the UN and all its funds and programmes, and other international partners was vital to promote recovery and stability in the country, he concluded.

"Haiti merits and needs the continued attention and engagement of the international community."
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BAN IN HAITI TO DRAW ATTENTION TO RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS

BAN IN HAITI TO DRAW ATTENTION TO RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS
New York, Mar 9 2009 3:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Haiti today to raise global awareness of the Caribbean nation's recovery and reconstruction needs.

On his visit, Mr. Ban is being accompanied by former United States President Bill Clinton, potential investors and representatives of non-governmental organizations, including renowned doctor Paul Farmer, who set up a hospital in the village of Canges, and musician Wyclef Jean, whose Yele Ayiti foundation has worked extensively on community projects in Haiti.

During the first part of the afternoon, the Secretary-General and the delegation will visit education projects, such as a feeding programme at a school in Cité Soleil, the impoverished neighbourhood of the capital Port-au-Prince that was formerly controlled by gangs. They will also meet with honour students from severely disadvantaged backgrounds.

Tonight, Mr. Ban and Mr. Clinton will meet with President René Préval and Prime Minister Michele Pierre Louis, as well as with members of the country's private sector and civil society.

Haiti, already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, was devastated by four successive storms in as many weeks last year, leaving 800 people dead and another 1 million either homeless or badly affected.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will head to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with current US President Barack Obama to discuss a host of issues, including the global economic crisis, Sudan, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The two leaders are also expected to confer on climate change, non-proliferation, human rights, United Nations reform and US-UN relations. While visiting the US capital from 10 to 11 March, Mr. Ban will also hold talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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