Above: UN Security Council President Masood Khan (UN Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Echoing a call by MINUSTAH Chief Mariano Fernandez earlier this month, the United National Security Council is urging Haiti to hold legislative elections by the end of 2013.

The Security Council issued its call in a statement issued by Council President Masood Khan of Pakistan following a briefing by Fernandez on the situation in Haiti.

“The members of the Security Council underscore in particular the importance of holding, free, fair, inclusive and credible elections by the end of 2013 to nurture political stability and create an environment conducive to socio-economic development, and that MINUSTAH stands ready to provide logistical and security support for those elections,” the council said.

The UN’s highest body said it did recognize progress made in the area of security in Haiti, emphasizing the “importance of strengthening the rule of law and reforming the security sector to consolidate stability.”

The council said it anticipated the development of a “conditions-based consolidation plan for MINUSTAH” as the UN works towards a “sustainable and responsible future end to the peacekeeping mission in Haiti.”

Earlier this month, Fernandez called for elections “as soon as possible” in Haiti; the elections have been delayed for more than a year.

At the end of December, Haiti’s leaders did manage to form a Transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council.

While Fernandez called that an “important first step,” the government must finalize the appointment of nine members to the body.

The Security Council urged “all political actors in Haiti to redouble their efforts to preserve the stability and progress achieved over the past year.”

“The members of the Security Council reaffirm to the Haitian people that the international community remains steadfast in its commitment to support their efforts in pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity,” it said.