MSG055G/01E HAITI: Boutros-Ghali Recommends Expansion of U.N. Advance Mission

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 (IPS) - United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali proposed Monday that the advance team of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) be increased to 500 before U.S. troops are withdrawn from the island nation.

The recommendation was part of a report to the U.N. Security Council, reviewing the first stage of the military operation in Haiti, which was carried out by a U.S.-led multinational force.

Boutros-Ghali called for a stronger UNMIH advance team - presently made up of 60 military observers - to facilitate the departure of U.S. troops who, under Security Council resolution 940, are to be replaced by U.N. forces for the second stage of the military operation.

The Secretary General did not indicate how soon the transition should take place. Under resolution 940, a "stable and secure atmosphere" must be established in Haiti before the U.N. troops - authorised to use force only in self defence - are introduced.

In his report, Boutros-Ghali stated that the advance mission "should be increased in order to facilitate UNMIH planning, identification of the conditions needed for the transition and, most importantly, to prepare for the transition itself."

"UNMIH advance personnel must be increased substantially, to some 500 members, making the force progressively stronger so that it will be fully prepared to enter into the transition period," he added.

According to the U.N. leader, a stronger UNMIH would include military and police observers, and military planning personnel.

France presented a similar proposal to the Security Council, and a positive decision is expected later this week.

When the multinational force is withdrawn, resolution 940 calls for 6,000 UNMIH troops to be sent into Haiti to supnational security until new elections are held in 1996.

Last week, Boutros-Ghali named U.S. General Daniel Schto command the UNMIH once the mission is fully deployed in Haiti, while the political operation will be under the control Lakhdar Brahimi, of Algeria.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service