France proposes strategies for building Haiti's future

by snuffysmith | January 16, 2010 at 10:47 am

738 views | 14 Recommendations | 10 comments

Bernard Kouchner, France's Minister of Foreign and European and Co-founder of Medecins Sans Frontieres has written a piece in the Washington Post that acknowledges the mobilization of humanitarian and disaster relief for Haiti by the United States and France to help Haitians recover from the earthquake catastrophe. More importantly, Kouchner calls for a world movement of solidarity to help Haiti. Kouchner
says

To help them recover from this catastrophe -- the worst of the many disasters Haiti has experienced -- France and its partners must do everything in their power to rebuild this island nation and help restore its strength and energy.

Today, all our efforts must aimed at saving those who can be saved and at bringing emergency relief to the population, so many of whom are now homeless or hungry. But it is not too soon to think about reconstruction: lasting, practical and political reconstruction that will ward off the demons of the past. The international community must be resolved, as France is, to help the Haitians for as long as is needed to rebuild their country and to convince them -- through actions, not just words -- that their future is in their hands.

France proposes to hold an international conference on Haitian reconstruction and development co-hosted by France, the United States, Canada, Brazil, the European Union, and others, addressing the extraordinary challenges Haiti faces.

We will base our actions on the damage assessments provided by Haitian authorities, the United Nations and other international institutions. Such an assessment must be carried out in the next few weeks and should be based on an analysis of Haiti's long-term requirements, if we are to put forward an ambitious reconstruction plan, not just for housing and infrastructure but also with regard to public institutions. Regional cooperation is critical. I believe that we must involve nongovernmental organizations and the Haitian diaspora; reconstruction will require all of us to work together. Our work must amount to more than a pledging conference: We aim to put Haiti on the path of enduring economic growth and social development.

The suffering of the Haitian people has generated an extraordinary surge of generosity from individuals and governments the world over. But our attention and efforts must go beyond immediate humanitarian relief. We must engage the Haitian people and help them on their path toward a new future.

I am very pleased to see France take this step to advance the Haitian post disaster relief effort and focus on the longer term development issues confronting Haiti. It is especially significant that France has undertaken to do this in light of the unfortunate history between the two countries, not to mention Haiti's own internal problems. It is a major step in the two countries coming together. Here is hoping that the US diplomats at the State Department can allow France to take the lead in this noble effort and share the stage, rather than suffer the usual "not invented here" syndrome that often characterizes the bureaucracy in Washington DC..

President Obama was right to commit $100 million and appoint ex-Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to lead the U.S. humanitarian response. Yet in all our largess, the US should be careful not to become the center of attention. Otherwise, the US risks minimizing international and homegrown efforts, which are the path to self-sufficiency and lasting stability. France should be commended for stepping up here.

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snuffysmith

at 10:58 on January 16th, 2010

Don't Let Haiti Return to Status Quo - Stephen Johnson, Wall Street Journal

snuffysmith

at 11:00 on January 16th, 2010

Large Role Seen for U.S.

snuffysmith

at 11:01 on January 16th, 2010

Haiti's Link With the Clintons

stejeb

at 11:04 on January 16th, 2010

Good article snuffy. It's important that what happens in Haiti now takes it forward, a multi country effort would be the ideal, and the old regime has to be kicked out to avoid everything going to line their pockets again and rebuild their little empire.

Okme2121 (not verified)

at 13:46 on January 16th, 2010

And how exactly does the old regime leave when it works with the countries that are going to help the common man in Haitit now? Those same aids are the "old" regimes....

stejeb

at 15:54 on January 16th, 2010

You should ask where all the money thrown at Haiti in "aid" has gone. Putting the money into ventures that generate capital for the pockets of foreign investors and exclusive members of Haiti's populace has done nothing to alleviate the poverty there. Ask where the money from the USA, Cuba and Venezuela went.

YankeeJim

at 04:06 on January 19th, 2010

I agree with that. I hope that participants just don't return to a welfare state model fro Haiti.

spark ing (not verified)

at 11:06 on January 16th, 2010

I applaud the willingness of France to support the re-building activities in Haiti. Let's hope that they will also pay back the $21 billion USD they owe to Haiti. A leadership in this noble effort should nevertheless go to the U.S. (due to proximity and having the resources) or U.N. and no way France. France doesn't have enough credibility with Haitians to lead such an effort, and I'm afraid they could use the leadership role to play politics to make everybody forget about the $21 billion USD they owe to Haitians.

snuffysmith

at 11:07 on January 16th, 2010

Haiti’s Government Is in Ruins, Too, but Struggles to Exhume Itself - Simon Romero and Marc Lacey, New York Times. It did not take very long for Edwin Paraison, a member of Haiti’s cabinet, to take stock of his losses and deliver a thorough assessment of what remained of his government ministry. “This is it,” he said, pointing to the laptop computer he was carrying. “My offices are gone.” The Haitian state seemed close to ruin on almost every level on Friday. President René Préval’s palace had been crushed. Tourism Minister Patrick Delatour’s mother and father were both killed in this week’s earthquake. Civil servants who were lucky enough to survive the earthquake were now picking up the pieces of their own lives. Those who even thought of going to work often had no ministry building to work from. “Not one ministry is operational today,” said Mr. Paraison, the minister for Haitians living abroad. “Five of our ministries have had their headquarters destroyed completely.” Haiti has long been known for its political tumult, for its coups d’état, years of authoritarian dictatorship and looting of the national treasury for personal gain. But recently, the country was on a comparatively stable path. President Préval was elected and re-elected, and has made no move to hold onto power when his final term comes up after elections this September.

OKme2121 (not verified)

at 13:42 on January 16th, 2010

Why doesn't France pay back that 21 Billion dollar bill it owes to Haiti? Instead of trying to figure out a plan to run the country in the future? Pigs..