Ban Recommends Reduction in U.N. Haiti Force
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recommended a reduction in the number of peacekeepers in Haiti, citing an improved security situation in the Caribbean nation
In a report to the U.N. Security Council, Ban said he envisaged a "further reduction" in the size of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 6,270 to 5,021 by June 2014.
MINUSTAH also has an additional 2,600 police officers.
Ban said the reduction was justified given the progress made by Haiti's police training program.
Haiti will have a police force comprising more than 11,200 officers by the end of the year, and hopes to have reached 15,000 by 2016.
Ban however voiced concern about the political situation in Haiti, stating that the "democratic process remains vulnerable to setbacks linked to political instability and infighting between branches of the government."
The U.N. leader called for delayed senate, municipal and local elections to be held as quickly as possible.
Source: Agence France Presse
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