Laurent Lamothe in Paraguay - Bilateral meeting Haiti - Argentina

As part of the 21st Ibero-American Summit, held in Asunción (Paraguay), the Foreign Minister of Argentina, Héctor imerman, held a bilateral meeting with his Haitian counterpart Laurent Lamothe.

Laurent Lamothe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, explained the objectives and priorities of the Haitian government, which define the contribution of Argentina to the efforts of the international community for the political stability and the institutional strengthening of Haiti, and their contributions to the creation of social conditions and the technical skills essential to the well-being and to the progress of the Haitian population.

In this context, Héctor Timerman has ratified the commitment of the Government of Argentina and has reiterated to his Haitian counterpart, the willingness of his country to continue to cooperate with Haiti. Timerman spoke of the major humanitarian aid operations conducted by Argentina, as the Pro Huerta program and the military hospital. The Minister Lamothe, offered to his Argentine counterpart, the opportunity to explore jointly the new avenues of cooperation on issues such as the agricultural support, the promotion of investment, the training of teachers of the technical and vocational schools, sports and student transportation.

The Chancellor of Haiti has also discussed of the importance that the Pro Huerta program has in the food policy intended to the Haitian people and stressed the need to diversify the imports and the investments of his country. He invited the Argentine companies to participate in the reconstruction of Haiti, particularly in infrastructure, bridges, airports, roads and energy.
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Laurent Lamothe in Paraguay, spoke of investments
29/10/2011 15:38:47

Laurent Lamothe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs (MAEC), left the country Thursday, October 27 for Asuncion in Paraguay to participate on October 28 and 29, to the 21st Ibero-American Summit which is held under the theme "Transformation of the State and Development".

On Friday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who participates as a guest to the 21st Ibero-American Summit, has formally requested to the community of Latin American nations the admission of Haiti as a participating Nation "The French language separates us a little from the rest of Latin America, but we are a country with a lot of points in common with the rest of the region."

The Minister Lamothe has thanked for the support that Haiti has received in recent years, especially Cuba for health, and in particular Venezuela and Brazil who are planning to build a power plant in Haiti. "We came here to look into the eyes of the representatives of Latin America and say you thank you for this valuable assistance."

On the sidelines of the Summit, Laurent Lamothe declared in a press conference that Haiti was "open for business" in these times where stability is beginning to recover "We want more resources through direct private investment, which is the best way to generate sustainable development [...] to replace the humanitarian aid that will not last "forever."

The Chancellor also announced that November 18, 2011, the new government of President Michel Martelly will activate a new national security force which will take "at least two years" to fully assume its security activities in Haiti.

Regarding the presence of the Minustah on the ground of Haiti, the Minister explained that it was not possible at this time, to set a departure date of the UN Mission, recalling that Haiti only have a police force of 10,000 men, with an annual budget of 150 million, while the UN operates its troops with 870 million dollars.

Laurent Lamothe reported that while waiting this new security force in Haiti, the government remains in favor of the continuation of the work of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti because "its role has been and remains, very important" until that Haiti is ready to take over.