United Nations Security Council Resolution 1212 – On the question concerning Haiti

Resolution 1212 (1998)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution1141 (1997) of 28 November 1997, and those adopted by the General Assembly,

Taking note of the request of 22 October 1998 from the President of theRepublic of Haiti to the Secretary-General (S/1998/1003),

Taking note also of the reports of the Secretary-General of 24 August 1998(S/1998/796) and of 11 November 1998 (S/1998/1064), and the recommendations contained therein,

Commending the role of the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti(MIPONUH) in assisting the Government of Haiti by supporting and contributing tothe professionalization of the Haitian National Police, and expressing itsappreciation to all Member States which have contributed to MIPONUH,

Commending further the role of the Representative of the Secretary-Generalin the coordination of activities by the United Nations system to promoteinstitution-building, national reconciliation and economic rehabilitation inHaiti,

Noting the key role played to date by the United Nations Civilian Police,the International Civilian Mission in Haiti and the United Nations Development Programme technical assistance, as well as bilateral programmes, in helping toestablish a fully functioning Haitian National Police force of adequate size andstructure as an integral element of the consolidation of democracy and the revitalization of Haiti’s system of justice and, in this context, stressing theimportance of the reform of Haiti’s system of justice for the successful development of the Haitian National Police and welcoming continued progress towards professionalization of the Haitian National Police and towardsfulfilment of the May 1997 “Haitian National Police development plan for 1997-2001”,

Stressing the link between peace and development, noting that significant international assistance is indispensable for sustainable development in Haiti,and stressing that a sustained commitment by the international community and the international financial institutions to assist and support the economic, social and institutional development in Haiti is indispensable for long-term peace andsecurity in the country,

Expressing deep concern over the prolonged political stalemate, whichpresents considerable risks for peace and development,

Expressing further its deep regret that this political stalemate has not yet made possible the transfer of the activities of MIPONUH to other forms of international assistance,

Recognizing that the people and the Government of Haiti bear the ultimate responsibility for national reconciliation, the maintenance of a secure and stable environment, the administration of justice, and the reconstruction oftheir country,

1. Reaffirms the importance of a professional, self-sustaining, fully functioning national police of adequate size and structure, able to conduct the full spectrum of police functions, for the consolidation of democracy and the revitalization of Haiti’s system of justice and encourages Haiti to pursueactively its plans in these respects;

2. Decides further to paragraph 1 above, and at the request of the President of the Republic of Haiti, to extend the present mandate, including the concept of operation of MIPONUH until 30 November 1999 in order to continue toassist the Government of Haiti by supporting and contributing to theprofessionalization of the Haitian National Police in accordance with thearrangements set out in paragraph 32 of the report of the Secretary-General of11 November 1998 (S/1998/1064), including mentoring Haitian national policefield performance and strengthening the capability of the central directorate ofthe police force to manage aid provided to it from bilateral and multilateralsources;

3. Affirms that future international assistance to the Haitian National Police should be considered through United Nations specialized agencies and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and throughother international and regional organizations and by Member States;

4. Requests Member States to provide appropriate support for the actionsundertaken by the United Nations and by Member States pursuant to this and otherrelevant resolutions in order to carry out the provisions of the mandatereferred to in paragraph 2 above;

5. Underlines the importance of full coordination among multilateral andbilateral contributors in order to assure the effective allocation of international assistance provided to the Haitian National Police and requeststhe representative of the Secretary-General to work closely with Member Statesto ensure that bilateral and multilateral efforts are complementary;

6. Strongly urges the Haitian authorities and political leaders to fulfiltheir responsibilities and to negotiate urgently an end to the crisis in aspirit of tolerance and compromise;

7. Calls upon the Haitian authorities to pursue the reform andstrengthening of Haiti’s system of justice, in particular its penalinstitutions;

8. Emphasizes that economic rehabilitation and reconstruction constitutethe major tasks facing the Haitian Government and people and that significantinternational assistance is indispensable for sustainable development in Haiti,stresses the commitment of the international community to a long-term programmeof support for Haiti and invites United Nations bodies and agencies, especiallythe Economic and Social Council, to contribute to the designing of such aprogramme;

9. Requests all States to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established in resolution 975 (1995) of 30 January 1995 for the Haitian National Police, in particular for the recruitment and deployment by the United Nations Development Programme of police advisers to assist the inspector general,directorate general, and department headquarters of the Haitian National Police;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution every three months from the date of its adoption until the mandate of MIPONUH expires on 30 November 1999;

11. Expresses its intention not to extend MIPONUH beyond 30 November 1999and requests the Secretary-General to make recommendations on a viabletransition to other forms of international assistance in his second reportreferred to in paragraph 10 above, for the consideration of the SecurityCouncil, taking into account the need to preserve the progress made in thereform of the Haitian National Police and to strengthen further United Nationssupport for the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights and the maintenance of law and order in Haiti;

12. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 3949th meeting,on 25 November 1998.