Haiti’s Commitment to Dialogue
Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry will participate in the 78th United Nations General Assembly. The Ministry of Communications of Haiti stated his address to the United Nations will defend the rights and interests of the Haitian people, while respecting those of others. Following the closure of the Dajabón – Haiti border, Haiti’s ministry underscored Haiti’s consistent preference for open dialogue.
Participation of Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry in the 78th United Nations General Assembly
On September 17, 2023, Dr. Ariel Henry, the Prime Minister of Haiti, embarked on a journey from the capital to New York to take part in the general discussions of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, reported the Ministry of Communications of Haiti.
Accompanying him are representatives from the High Council of the Transition, as well as delegates from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and External Cooperation, Public Health and Population, and members of the Prime Minister’s Office.
During his engagement at this General Assembly, Prime Minister Henry will emphasize the pressing need for substantial support for #PNH, aimed at reinstating security across the entire nation. His official address to the United Nations is scheduled for September 22, 2023, during which he will advocate for the rights and interests of the Haitian people while respecting those of others.
Alongside the main sessions, the head of government will partake in various discussion panels and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of numerous countries spanning the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
In Prime Minister Henry’s absence in Haiti, the role of interim leadership will be assumed by Mr. Michel Patrick Boisvert, the Minister of Economy and Finance.
Regarding the Border Closure with the Dominican Republic
On September 17, the president of the Dominican Republic addressed the nation to explain the reasons behind the closure of the Dajabón – Haiti border. Abinader stated that the action was taken after the expiration of the 72-hour grace period following a notice of “clear violation of the border treaties between our two nations,” where he described the “illegal involvement in the construction of a canal to divert the waters of the Masacre River.”
The Government of the Republic of Haiti acknowledged the decision made by the Dominican Republic to shut its borders with Haiti on Friday, September 15, 2023.
Haiti’s Response
In response, Haiti affirmed its sovereign right to manage its natural resources independently. The Ministry of Communications of Haiti released a statement asserting that, like the Dominican Republic, with which it shares the Massacre River, Haiti possesses the complete authority to engage in fishing activities in accordance with the 1929 agreement. The Government of the Republic of Haiti pledged to take all necessary actions to safeguard the interests of its citizens.
Haiti’s government expressed its consistent preference for open dialogue, underscoring that negotiations were actively ongoing and progressing positively between the Haitian delegation, duly authorized for this purpose, and their counterparts in the Dominican Republic as part of the Binational Commission. The unilateral decision by the Dominican President to close the borders disrupted this ongoing dialogue.
In an official declaration, the Government of the Republic of Haiti called for the protection of lives and property on both sides of the border and emphasized the importance of adhering to international agreements governing this issue.
Furthermore, the government encouraged the Haitian population to remain calm, assuring that measures would be put in place to ensure that the irrigation of the Maribahoux plain would be conducted in accordance with established standards, under the close supervision of relevant authorities, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, and Environment.
Regarding the Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti has officially communicated that Mrs. Emmelie PROPHETE MILCE, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, received a courtesy visit on the morning of September 18.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Maria Isabel SALVADOR, the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), sought to gain insights into the evolving situation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This situation arose following the closure of all borders by the Dominican Republic on September 15.
In its official statement, Haiti highlighted that Ms. Salvador expressed her concerns about the deteriorating relations between the two nations and the potential adverse effects this situation could have on Haiti’s socio-economic circumstances.
Ms. Salvador urged Haitian authorities to pursue bilateral dialogue as a means to diplomatically resolve the crisis, all within the boundaries of international law. She shared her apprehensions, along with those of a section of the global community, regarding the repercussions of this situation for both countries, stated the ministry.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary General’s Representative in Haiti for her visit. She conveyed the government’s worries about the impact of the ongoing crisis on the security of Haitians in the Dominican Republic, concerns that were explicitly conveyed to SEM Farouk Miguel Castillo, the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, on September 15.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Minister Prophète Milcé stated that “Haiti retains the sovereign right to engage in activities on the Massacre River” and reiterated Haiti’s commitment to dialogue, exemplified by the invitation extended through official communication to the Dominican Republic on September 15, 2023. This invitation was delivered to the Dominican Chancellery by the Haitian Embassy in Santo Domingo.
Suspension of Bilateral Negotiations
In a statement released in Port-au-Prince on Friday, September 15, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the public that, in response to the Dominican President’s implementation of threats to close all land, air, and maritime borders with the Republic of Haiti, which prompted the Haitian delegation to terminate ongoing bilateral talks in Santo Domingo, SEM Farouk MIGUEL CASTILLO, the Dominican Ambassador to Haiti, was summoned to provide an explanation for this unilateral decision.
Madame Emmelie PROPHETE MILCE, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, who received the ambassador, clearly conveyed the Haitian Government’s disapproval of these disproportionate measures, which are expected to have adverse effects on the relationship between the two nations.
She also expressed concerns about the safety of Haitian nationals in the Dominican Republic and urged the Dominican Ambassador to ensure that his Government takes all necessary actions to protect them.
During the discussion that followed, covering various aspects of the crisis stemming from the resumption of pipeline work on the Massacre River, Minister Prophète Milcé and Ambassador Miguel Castillo concurred that the path of dialogue is the sole means by which the two countries can achieve a lasting resolution to this dispute.
At the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry of Haiti is scheduled to speak on September 22nd.
The Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader is scheduled to speak during the afternoon session of September 20th.
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