Americas

Home page

Americas

UN envoy welcomes appointment of new Haitian prime minister

05 October 2011 23:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Mariano Fernandez, the UN secretary-general’s special representative in Haiti, has welcomed the confirmation of a new prime minister in the island country, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters here Wednesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The secretary-general’s special representative in Haiti, Mariano Fernandez, has welcomed the confirmation of Garry Conille as prime minister, after a vote by the country’s senate yesterday, " said Nesirky.

Conille is a medical doctor who has worked with the UN on health and development issues, in addition to serving as a chief of staff to former U.S. President Bill Clinton. He is the third candidate to be presented by Haitian President Michel Martelly for government approval as the first two candidates were rejected by the senate.

"Mr. Fernandez congratulated President Michel Martelly, as well as the president of the senate and the president of the lower house of Parliament, for their efforts and constructive dialogue," Nesirky said.

Haiti has faced dire poverty for many years, a situation that became even worse after a January 2010 earthquake hit the country, killing 222,570 people and destroying homes and infrastructure. In October 2010, a cholera epidemic hit the country, causing thousands more deaths.

The next step for Conille will be to form a cabinet that must be approved by both houses of the Haitian parliament.

Nesirky said that Fernandez hopes that both houses of parliament can soon agree on strategies to help the troubled nation.

"He said he hoped that the program of the prime minister would get approval from both houses so that the major projects of national reconstruction can begin without delay," Nesirky stated.

Nesirky added that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon now plans to write a letter to the new Haitian prime minister.