Lawyer and specialist in Dominican-Haitian relations Juan Manuel Castillo Pantaleón proposed the formation of an international commission that instead of calling for a military force be one for the maintenance of peace in Haiti, as reported in Hoy. The recommendation is for a commission that would bring together the government, NGOs and armed groups as an alternative to stabilize the neighboring country.
When questioned about the proposal of the United Nations (UN) for alternatives in the absence of action by the international community to lead a multinational force, Castillo Pantaleón recommended the Dominican Republic stop insisting on the international community sending troops to Haiti. He said that the insistence is futile, because so far no government wants to send its troops to fight over an issue that is internal to Haiti.
“That requires the recognition of the groups in conflict. The United Nations has done nothing more than reiterate the proposal that the Dominican Republic persists in requesting,” said the lawyer.
Castillo Pantaleón advocates instead for support to efforts to achieve an understanding among all Haitians first.
Castillo Pantaleón regretted that in Haiti there is no force that can exhibit purity to lead the process, considering that excesses and crimes stain all the political groups in one way or another.
President Luis Abinader and President Ariel Henry of Haiti are in Brussels for the III European Union and Celac meeting that brings together heads of state and government for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the first days of attending activities on occasion of the III EU-CELAC meeting in Brussels, President Abinader had not issued a public call for military support to the police in Haiti as he had during several previous international and regional meetings. The meetings end on 18 July 2023 when a declaration is expected to be issued with the conclusions of the meeting.
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Hoy
18 July 2023