Bill Clinton Named UN Envoy to Haiti

by Jon Azpiri | May 19, 2009 at 12:25 pm

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Former US President Bill Clinton has been named by the United Nations as its special envoy to Haiti.

Clinton accepted the new post and says he hopes to boost the Caribbean country's ailing economy and help rebuild the country's infrastructure that were damaged after last year's tropical storms.

In March, Clinton visited Haiti with UN Chief Mr Ban, and spearheaded fundraising effort that led to more than $300 million in donations.

Not surprisingly, the move was applauded by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also praised the appointment of such "a high-profile envoy," without mentioning their marriage or the requirement that State Department lawyers review Bill Clinton's international activities to avoid conflicts of interest.

"It's the kind of partnership we are looking for across the board," she told reporters at the White House, explaining that she had already been preparing a team to help Haiti. "This is going to be an added bit of leverage and focus for us."

Clinton will be visit the country up to four times a year and will be paid a salary of $1 a year.

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