China urges UN to consider sanctions against persons responsible for gang violence in Haiti

Geng Shuang front, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, addresses a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on October 4, 2021. CIA PAK UNPHOTO UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council should consider imposing sanctions on those responsible for gang violence in Haiti, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.

Security Council Resolution 2645 expresses the council's readiness to take appropriate measures that could include an asset freeze and travel ban on those who are involved in or supporting gang violence. Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said it is necessary for the council to translate this readiness into action with the situation in Haiti as it is.

China hopes that the United States and Mexico, as penholders on Haiti, will submit a draft resolution as soon as possible and convene consultations so that the Security Council can make a decision on this issue, he told a Security Council meeting on Haiti.

He said that the UN Integrated Office in Haiti BINUH should submit a list of criminal gangs and their leaders to the Security Council for sanctions designationSecurity Council for sanctions designation.

Resolution 2645 calls for UN member states to stop the transfer of arms to non-state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence in Haiti, and that this will help cut off the supply of weapons and ammunition to gangs without prejudice to the security cooperation between member states and the Haitian police force. He said that China hopes that the penholders will include this element in the draft resolution.

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Security Council Resolution 2645 supports Haitian authorities in combating illegal financial flows, trafficking and diversion of arms, and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports. The council should support Haiti in giving priority to port management and customs reform with the situation in Haiti as it is. Geng said that China hopes that the new draft resolution will address this point.

The UN work in Haiti in the past three decades has shown that international assistance can only play a catalytic and facilitating role, and that the issue of Haiti can only be resolved by the Haitian people themselves, he noted.

The political stalemate in Haiti is ongoing for years and there is a strong desire for the restoration of constitutional order. China hopes that all parties in Haiti will have a stronger sense of urgency, actively carry out political consultations, and establish national institutions that enjoy the real support of the Haitian people and represent their interests. He said that the United Nations and other regional organizations must continue to play an active role in this regard.

Geng stressed that neither the United Nations nor any organization can go beyond their duties, let alone take sides.

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The United Nations is in Haiti to offer help. The negative public opinion in Haiti about the United Nations has been on the rise for some time. China hopes that the BINUH will do more to engage with Haitians and to win their trust and support. He said that BINUH and other UN offices in Haiti should strengthen resource-sharing and operational synergy.