Visiting Canada until this evening, Anthony Blinken, the American Secretary of State spoke at length about the crisis that Haiti is currently experiencing with his Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly. Even before his arrival in Ottawa, the United States had hinted that Canadian authorities could lead a potential international intervention force. A proposal that Canada seems to have declined.
With our correspondent in Quebec, Pascale Guericolas
For now, Canada is in no rush to intervene militarily in Haiti, despite the insistence of its powerful neighbor. In a press conference alongside his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, repeated that the solution to this crisis must go through the Haitian people.
” No decision will be made without the involvement of Haitians. I have always said that it will be by and for Haitians because in the end, it is for their good. Because right now, it’s the people who are suffering in Haiti. So our goal is to help them “, explains Mélanie Joly.
The Canadian delegation is currently consulting stakeholders in the field to ” explore different ways to help the Haitian people “, indicated the government, which plans to support “ solutions proposed by Haitians to restore access to essential goods and services “.
Request remained a dead letter
A handsome player, the American Secretary of State did not insist on his request, which remained a dead letter. He explained that discussions are underway with other countries to set up an international coalition. ” We agree that between food and fuel shortages, the resurgence of cholera and gangs blocking ports and terrorizing civiliansthe situation is really no longer tenable “said Antony Blinken. For its part, Canada insists on its role of supporting the Haitian police.
► Read also : In Haiti, the first deaths due to cholera for 3 years raise fears of a return of the epidemic
A Canadian team is also on site to assess what resources the Haitian government has at its disposal to resolve the roadblocks, and allow the police to do their job. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is waiting for this update to know what tools are needed to truly help the pearl of the Antilles.
The visit comes at a time when the international community is examining how to increase its aid to Haiti, which has called for help in the face of the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation, including through a peacekeeping force. The appeal of the Haitian government was relayed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
But this idea of an armed force is not unanimous, neither within the Haitian population nor within the Security Council, and no country has yet offered to lead it. The United States has indicated that it is ready to support such a force but not to lead it, as has France.
►Also read : The United States ready to help Haiti, but cautious about sending troops