President Leonel Fernandez brought the Haitian political, economic and social crisis to the Group of Rio Summit, where he was backed by the event’s host President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva. In the final declaration of the 18th Summit of the Group of Rio, the need for increased international community support to the difficult situation that has developed in Haiti was pressed. Brazil has sent a force of 1,200 soldiers to participate in the 4,000-strong United Nations peace-keeping force in Haiti.
In Rio de Janeiro, the heads of state and diplomats agreed to take an integrated approach to the crisis by launching an offensive that would force a broad dialogue between all the political forces at work and commit then to the cause of reconstruction in Haiti.