SANTO DOMINGO.- President Luis Abinader warned Thursday before the Organization of American States (OAS) that the current situation in Haiti can be defined as “a low-intensity civil war,” so “we must act responsibly and You must act now.”
“Haiti cannot wait any longer,” said the President during his speech before the OAS. However, he recognized that the response to the Haitian crisis should come from the Haitians, but, he said, they see the possibility of understanding and consensus in that neighboring nation as more and more distant.
In this sense, he proposed that the OAS cooperate to improve the security of certain critical infrastructures in Haiti, especially its ports and airports; assist in the creation of mechanisms and capacities related to the control of weapons and ammunition that reach the hands of criminal organizations; coordinate with member countries and the UN, the training, training and controlled supply of public security forces, that is, the Haitian National Police.
He also suggested that, as soon as security conditions allow, collaborate with the Haitian authorities to organize an electoral process that results in a government and elected authorities with leadership, legitimacy and popular support.
“The OAS must continue carrying out fundamental actions in favor of democratic elections, one of them is to provide an adequate civil registry to the entire Haitian population,” said the Dominican president.
He pointed out that the effects of the multidimensional crisis in Haiti exceed individual capacity and constitute a threat to the stability and security of the entire region.
He affirmed that the crisis that overflows the borders of Haiti is a threat to the national security of the Dominican Republic.
“It is impossible to deny the danger that a State does not have control and monopoly of force over its territory represents. We face the real possibility that criminal gangs operating in Haiti will try to transgress territorial integrity and try to alter public order and security in our country,” Abinader warned.
He said that the transit of people and merchandise from the Dominican Republic to Haiti has been extremely risky for a long time.
“Our government is doing and will do everything in its power to ensure the peace and security of our citizens and everyone under our jurisdiction.
That is why we have started the construction of a perimeter fence in the most vulnerable and sensitive areas. In addition, we have taken measures to prohibit the entry into our country of individuals associated with these groups, and those who deliberately undermine our stability, “he added.
He advocated for robust mandates from the international community that allow the Haitian authorities to have the assistance and cooperation to urgently overcome the violence and its causes, strengthening the capacities of their State, “which, unfortunately, has not been possible so far.” .
He added that since the departure of the UN Stabilization Mission, the Dominican Republic has insisted on the creation of strong multidimensional mandates, properly financed and that would attend to the needs defined by the Haitian authorities as a priority.
“Two years as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council were not enough to fully understand the urgency. The result of this misunderstanding is the crisis we are seeing today,” she said.
