Army commander expresses optimism regarding Haiti mission

11/01/2006 - 12h29

Carolina Pimentel
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – At a ceremony honoring general Urano Bacellar (the commander of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah) who commited suicide in Port-au-Prince on Saturday, January 7) general Francisco Albuquerque, the Brazilian Army commander, promised that the Haiti mission, under Brazilian leadership, will be continue.

"We will proceed and accomplish our mission as we have always done. This [the tragic death of general Bacellar] will not deter us. On the contrary, it has strengthened our resolve in our vocation as warriors of peace.... I am certain that this loss will fortify our faith and will power to move ahead, get the job done, complete this challenging mission," said general Albuquerque.

Complying with a UN request, Brazil has now submitted two names to substitute Bacellar: generals José Elito Carvalho de Siqueira, commander of the 6th Military Region, and Jeannot Jansen da Silva, vice chief of Army Logistics.

Translation: Allen Bennett