Gabriela Guerreiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - This week the Brazilian government is making another move to gain new support for the political, social, and economy recovery of Haiti. Brazil, which has been in charge of the United Nations peace force in Haiti since July, 2004, will participate, tomorrow (12), in a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the future of international assistance to that country.

The Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, who will represent Brazil at the meeting, said that he is optimistic and hopes that international public opinion will continue to be mobilized on behalf of Haiti's rebuilding effort.

In Amorim's view, the international help provided to Haiti corresponds to what the Brazilian government expected. He made a point of mentioning the US$ 1.2 billion transferred to the country to help the country pay its debts to the World Bank.

Amorim once again reiterated the tripod "security, dialogue, and international aid" as the essential pillars for Haitian recovery. According to the Ministry, dialogue is vital for the Haitians themselves, as well as for the rest of the world, to expedite the public safety operations intended to restore order in the country. As for the Security Council meeting, Amorim made it clear that no direct answer is expected regarding operations in Haiti - only a forum for debate.

According to Amorim, Brazil's role in charge of the UN peace force in Haiti was important for the mobilization of global efforts on behalf of the Haitian population. "The existence of an Economic Council Group working in conjunction with the Security Council is in large part due to Brazilian initiatives," he remarked.

The Minister is departing today for Trinidad and Tobago. Immediately after his visit, he will proceed to the United States to participate in the Security Council meeting. Then he will travel to Africa, where he will visit five countries between now and January 19.

Translation: David Silberstein