Cablegate: Results of 1/18 Hemispheric Preparatory Converence On Haiti

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DE RUEHDG #0021/01 0192043
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O R 192043Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0546
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0014
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 SANTO DOMINGO 000021

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON PGOV HA DR
SUBJECT: RESULTS OF 1/18 HEMISPHERIC PREPARATORY CONVERENCE ON HAITI
RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS

SUMMARY

1. Dominican Rebublic (DR) President Leonel Fernandez, on 1/18/10,
hosted a hemispheric preparatory meeting for a future international
conference on elaborating a strategic plan for the reconstruction
of Haiti. He proposed that a coordinating committee be created
made up of Haiti, the DR, CARICOM, the UN, the EU, the OAS, the Rio
Group, the U.S., Canada, Brazil and the Inter-American Development
Bank. Fernandez also proposed that the Canadian initiative to hold
Friends of Haiti meeting in Montreal on 1/25 include the
coordinating committee members and be considered a follow-on to
today's session. At Haitian President Preval's request, the
principal Haiti reconstruction strategy meeting would then be held
in the DR in April, followed by the unveiling of a "Plan of Action"
at the 05/16-18/10 EU-Latin American Summit in Madrid. The
Dominican hosts circulated a draft "Declaration of Santo Domingo,"
which states that the April meeting in the DR will be "convoked" by
the Eureopean Union (seemingly influenced by visiting Spanish Vice
President Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega). In addition,
Fernandez suggested that Caribbean nations' debts to the Paris
Club be paid into a Haiti reconstruction fund. The UN rep insisted
that MINUSTAH be in charge of all security in Haiti, with other
foreign military forces limited to humanitarian relief operations,
and stressed that any organizations deploying resources to Haiti be
self-sustaining. WHA A/S Valenzuela spoke on the USG's long-term
commitment to Haiti reconstruction, highlighted SECSTATE's call for
the creation of a Coordination Center in Haiti to manage the
distribution of assistance, noted that the U.S. recognizes
MINUSTAH's primary role in providing security, which our military
forces will support but not supplant, and recognized the efforts of
the DR's government and people in the Haiti relief effort. END
SUMMARY.

2. Attendees at the meeting included Haitian President Preval,
Spanish Vice President Fernandez de la Vega (also speaking for the
EU), OAS Secretary General Insulza, CARICOM Chairman Carrington,
the Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica,
Barbados and the Bahamas, high-level diplomatic representatives
from Canada, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, and representatives from the
International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, the
Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank. WHA A/S
Arturo Valenzuela headed the U.S. delegation, accompanied by
Charge, USAID Director, Pol-Econ Counselor, Information Officer,
S/P Peter Harrell and PRM Guy Lawson.

STATEMENTS BY THE COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

3. President Fernandez opened the meeting and then called on the
head of each delegation to make a statement. Following these
interventions, Fernandez summarized the meeting's conclusions and
Spanish VP Fernandez de la Vega suggested that these be
incorporated in a "Declaration of Santo Domingo" (operative text at
para 6). The gist of participants' comments follows:

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - PRESIDENT LEONEL FERNANDEZ

n The Haiti earthquake was an unimaginable catastrophe

n There is the need to concentrate on the immediate task of relief
and reconstruction, but there is also the need for a long-term
strategic plan aimed at achieving sustainable development in Haiti,
including long-term financing of this plan

n To develop this plan, he proposes the creation of a Permanent
Working Committee

n The international community has to make sure that assistance to
Haiti does not fade away once the earthquake and its aftermath
disappears from the front pages

SPAIN (Speaking for the EU) - VICE PRESIDENT MARIA TERESA FERNANDEZ
DE LA VEGA

n Expresses full support for the DR's initiative

n Earlier that day in Brussels, EU cooperation ministers agreed to
send an assistance package composed of search and rescue teams, a
logistics unit, air assets, engineers and security forces

n Congratulates the DR for the important role it is playing as a
logistics platform

n Total assistance pledged to date from EU is 306 million Euros

DOMINICA - PRIME MINISTER ROOSEVELT SKERRIT

n In the past, Haiti has not always received promised aid; this
must not be repeated now

n CARICOM members are ready to work with the international
community to rebuild Haiti

n Long-term development plan is needed

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES - SECRETARY GENERAL JOSE MIGUEL
INSULZA

n OAS has created an assistance fund, contributing USD one million
and hopes to collect USD 10 million in donations from Latin
American companies

n It's facilities and staff in Haiti is at the disposition of the
Haitian Government

n A single coordinating center is needed for the relief operation;
suggests that this should include representatives from the UN,
major donors, Chile, Brazil and CARICOM.

HAITI - PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL

n Thanks President Fernandez and the DR for assistance, notes need
to continue to strengthen ties between the two countries

n Thanks the international community for its rapid and massive
assistance

n Priorities are to establish political and economic stability and
recreate institutions

n Haiti was in a difficult situation before the earthquake, now
need it not only to repair the damage but also to create jobs,
reinforce democratic institutions and promote economic growth and
development

n The reconstruction effort is above all the responsibility of the
Haitian people themselves

n Need donors to better coordinate efforts and to follow the end
use of aid being given

USA - WHA ASSISTANT SECRETARY ARTURO VALENZUELA

n Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told President Preval the day
before that the U.S. will provide all the assistance it can to
Haiti, and that this is a long-term commitment

n The U.S. is coordinating its efforts closely with Haiti, the UN
and the international community in one of the largest relief
efforts in memory

n U.S. paratroopers delivered 130,000 rations last Saturday alone

n We recognize that MINUSTAH has the primary security role; U.S.
forces will support MINUSTAH, not supplant it

n Secretary Clinton called for the creation of a Coordination
Center in Haiti to improve organization and implementation of the
relief effort

n The USG recognizes the assistance of the Government of the
Dominican Republic (GoDR) and the Dominican people to the relief
effort and will take this into account in its assistance programs
to the DR

n The USG also salutes the efforts of other Caribbean nations, the
OAS and the international institutions and organizations

CANADA - FOREIGN MINISTER FOR THE AMERICAS PETER KENT

n Canada's long-term commitment to Haiti will continue and deepen

n Salutes President Fernandez's assistance, particularly in the
opening of a humanitarian corridor across the island of Hispaniola.

n The previous day Canada held a conference call with the Friends
of Haiti group and arranged for a 01/25/10 meeting in Montreal to
focus on long-term planning

n It is important to turn this crisis into an opportunity

BRAZIL - SECRETARY GENERAL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ANTONIO AGUIAR
PATRIOTA

n Haiti needs a long-term aid program that builds on prior
progress, especially in the consolidation of democracy

n Salutes the DR's assistance, which marks a new chapter in
bilateral relations on Hispaniola and in the Caribbean

n Brazil will host a summit with CARICOM in April, where Haiti
reconstruction will be a major agenda item

n At a UN Security Council meeting that day, the need to
reinforce MINUSTAH will be addressed

n MINUSTAH must remain in charge of security, with other foreign
military forces concentrating on distributing supplies

n Brazil has agreed to provide USD 15 million in immediate aid, of
which USD five million has already been authorized

n Job creation is a priority, as is improving the agricultural
sector

CHILE - FOREIGN MINISTER MARIANO FERNANDEZ

n Agrees with Secretary Clinton's call for a single Coordinating
Center in Haiti

n There is a lot of confusion in the provision of medical services
there; the UN needs to move these facilities out from the airport
area to outlying regions

MEXICO - HEAD OF ECONOMIC AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DEPARTMENT
ROGELIO GRANGUILLHOME MORFIN

n Mexico is providing USD eight million in aid, has send over 200
people to Haiti and is dispatching 1500 tons of supplies by boat

n Supports creation of a Coordinating Center

n There needs to be a comprehensive evaluation of reconstruction
priorities, looking at the condition of Haitian industry and
services; suggests the UN and IDB analyze economic impact of the
earthquake, with particular focus on lost jobs and the financial
sector

n MINUSTAH's mandate should be revised to reflect current needs,
and Mexico is making a proposal on these lines to the UNSC

n Given existing logistical problems, Mexico is making its ports
available for use as logistic platforms for Haiti relief efforts

WORLD BANK - DIRECTOR FOR LATIN AMERICA YVONNE TSIKATA

n The World Bank has announced a USD 100 million grant for Haiti
relief efforts, focused on infrastructure

n It will discuss priorities with the Government of Haiti

n In short-term humanitarian needs are greatest, and the Bank is
looking at how it can re-allocate its current portfolio to meet
this requirement

n The Bank will begin conducting a needs assessment on 01/25

n In conjunction with the International Monetary Fund, the Bank is
working to get the Haitian payments system back up and running; its
team is in Santo Domingo awaiting UN approval to go into Haiti

n The Bank also supports Secretary Clinton's call for a
Coordination Center

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - PRIME MINISTER PATRICK MANNING

n CARICOM members are behind Haiti and will contribute what they
can

n At last April's Summit of the America's, T&T proposed the
creation of a Special Development Fund for Haiti; it is clear that
now the time has come to move forward on this fund

n It is also time to forgive Haiti's foreign debt

UNITED NATIONS - REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNSYG FOR THE STABILIZATION
AND PEACE MISSION IN HAITI EDMUNDO MULET

n UNSYG Moon has requested an additional 1500 police and 2000
troops for MINUSTAH

n Thanks President Fernandez for offering 315 troops for border
duties

n The DR's humanitarian corridor for relief supplies is also very
important

n Agrees on the need for better strategic coordination in
capitals, operational coordination in Port au Prince and tactical
coordination in the field

n MINUSTAH is capable of providing security in Port au Prince and
throughout the country

n Military forces from the U.S., EU, and Canada are coming, and
the UN is preparing memorandum's of understanding with each to
define roles

n These troops can help with distribution of food and supplies
around the country

n UN is considering making different countries responsible for
different geographic areas, with Canada taking over the west, the
U.S. managing distribution in Port au Prince

n This would be akin to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in
Afghanistan

n The UN is very pleased with coordination of military forces to
date

n The UN has made a "flash appeal" for USD 500 million in
assistance, of which some two-thirds has been pledged

n This money needs to be supplied in cash as soon as possible

n The Haitian people need to be incorporated in the relief and
reconstruction efforts, with payments for work; this will also
promote stability and security

n UNDP is working on an action plan to bring this about

n The UN is working closely with the Haitian Government to define
priorities, and will bring local authorities into the process, as
they know their communities best

n In 15 days, FAO hopes to feed one million people, doubling that
in a month.

n Logistics needs are great, the Port au Prince airport is small
and the humanitarian corridor to Santo Domingo is getting
overloaded, so the UN is looking at establishing a logistics
platform in the Dominican province of Barahona, where there is an
airport

n Assistance to the DR is needed to assist in the establishment of
an efficient humanitarian corridor and move border control points
to locations where they will create fewer bottlenecks

n MINUSTAH would like to establish a permanent office in Santo
Domingo to coordinate these efforts

n All countries, organizations and NGOs sending people to Haiti
must ensure that their deployments are completely self-sustaining,
as Haiti cannot absorb people competing for the scarce resources
there

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS - PRESIDENT TABATERU KONOE

n The ICRC is providing safe water to 100,000 people,delivered a
250 bed hospital and is providing 16 emergency response teams,
eight of which have already deployed

n Critical needs include food, water, shelter, psychological
support and security

JAMAICA - PRIME MINISTER BRUCE GOLDING

n The relief efforts administrative challenges must be addressed
under the direction of President Preval and the Haitian Government;
there should be no ambiguity as to who is in charge

n Jamaica offers itself as a logistics platform; Kingston airport
can handle long-haul flights

n One need not mentioned is the care of the large number of
orphans created by the earthquake

n Commitments to Haiti need to be fulfilled this time

CARICOM - SECRETARY EDWIN CARRINGTON

n CARICOM will strengthen its office in Port au Prince

INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

n An emergency fund to provide care for 100,000 people has been
established, USD 340 million in non-disbursed funds are at Haiti's
disposition for relief and reconstruction efforts, and USD 110
million in debt will be converted into grants

n These measures will not reduce planned support for Haiti in the
future

FERNANDEZ SUMS UP THE DISCUSSION

4. President Fernandez then summed up the discussion and made
comments and proposals of his own as follows:

n There was agreement that Haiti faces immediate and long-term
needs and that improved coordination is needed for both

n A central coordinating center is needed in Haiti to channel
international assistance efficiently, and the possibility of
creating geographic zones of responsibility needs to be explored

n Proposes that a Coordination Committee be formed to develop a
strategic plan for Haitian reconstruction and development

n Adds that this Coordination Committee be made up of Haiti, the
DR, CARICOM, the UN, the EU, the OAS, the Rio Group, the United
States, Canada, Brazil and the IDB (when the Mexican rep asked if
his country could be added, Fernandez replied that they would be
present as head of the Rio Group)

n Suggests that the 01/25 ministerial meeting in Montreal serve as
a follow-up to the 01/18 conference, and that all members of the
Coordination Committee be invited to participate

n Proposes that the DR host another conference in April, at which
the Coordination Committee will present its recommendations, adding
that Haitian President Preval suggested that this meeting be held
in the DR

n Proposes that a Plan of Action be adopted at or on the margins
of the 05/16-18/10 EU-Latin America Summit in Madrid

n Estimates that Haiti will require USD two billion a year for the
next five years

n Proposes that one way to raise part of this money is to have all
Caribbean countries pay their debt service on Paris Club loans into
a Haiti Development Fund

n Agreement that Haiti needs assistance in consolidating its
democratic institutions and in developing food self-sufficiency,
which will require assistance to the agricultural sector in
addition to the recognized need for aid to rebuild schools,
hospitals, ports, electricity generation, telecommunications and
the tourism infrastructure

n The DR is honored to become part of MINUSTAH and is looking at
building up its logistic capabilities at Barahona and at the Jimani
border crossing

SPANISH VP SEEKS TO CEMENT CONCLUSIONS IN DECLARATION

5. Spanish VP Fernandez de la Vega seconded Fernandez's
conclusions and proposals regarding the formation of a Coordination
Committee and the scheduling and location of future conferences
(although she did not refer to the Dominican President's debt
proposals) and stated that they should be incorporated in a
"Declaration of Santo Domingo." There was no vote on the Spanish
VP's proposal and no one spoke out for or against it, and the
meeting then concluded. Subsequently, the GoDR hosts distributed
the text of this Declaration to attendees, although none were asked
to sign it.

TEXT OF DECLARATION

6. Begin informal Embassy translation of operative text of
Declaration (full Spanish text has been scanned and emailed to
Haiti Task Force and WHA/CAR):

(description of Haiti earthquake and aftermath)

The Government and the people of Hait are and should continue being
the principal protagonists of the reconstruction of their country
and of their collective destiny. But it is the responsibility of
the international community to offer all of its help to convert the
incertitude in confidence and skepticism in a vision of its shared
future.

For all of the above, the countries and organizations present in
this meeting agree to promote the holding of an international
conference that will have as its objective the elaboration of a
Strategic Plan for the Reconstruction of Haiti that, in addition to
emergency assistance, will contribute to reinforce in the medium-
and long-term the social, economic and political viability and
stability of Haiti.

The conference will be convoked by the European Union and
celebrated in the Dominican Republic.

A Coordination Committee, made up of Haiti, the Dominican Republic,
CARICOM, the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization
of American States, the Rio Group, the United Staets, Canada,
Brazil and the Inter-American Development Bank, created to this
effect will develop the organization of said activity that will
hold its first meeting on January 25 in Canada.

A working group designated by this committee will elaborate a
proposed Strategic Plan that will be submitted for debate in the
first plenary meeting that that will be based on three points: the
Millennium Objectives, the "National Strategic Document for Growth
and Poverty Reduction 2008-2010," and the World Bank document known
as "Options and Opportunities for Haiti"

At the same time, it is agreed to propose to the G-20 that at its
next meeting it studies the creation of a fund for the
reconstruction of Haiti, taking into account experiences, such as
the Iraq fund.

The globalized world in which we live demands from us answers that
are also global. The countries and organizations present in this
meeting believe that the future of Haiti merits that the
international community combine its efforts.

The Haitian crisis has again reaffirmed that in our globalized
world no only government but also citizens feel that nothing that
occurs to someone else is foreign to us. We can and should
construct a more just and human world.

For thousands of Haitians this tragedy has been an end, it is our
responsibility that for millions of citizens of this and other
continents that it be a new beginning.

End text.

COMMENT

7. President Fernandez, with the cooperation of Haitian President
Preval and Spanish VP Fernandez de la Vega, deftly engineered the
01/18/10 conference to place the DR and its Caribbean neighbors at
the center of international efforts to provide assistance to
Haitian relief and reconstruction. Septel will report on A/S
Valenzuela's subsequent separate private discussions with Fernandez
and with Spanish VP Fernandez de la Vega on this and other topics.
A/S Valenzuela has reported via e-mail his conversations with
Chilean Foreign Minister Fernandez, Brazilian Sec. Gen. Patriota,
Haitian President Preval, Jamaican PM golding and Canadian Foreign
Minister for the America's Kent. END COMMENT.

8. A/S Valenzuela cleared on this cable.
Lambert

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