Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, paid a visit Monday, September 19, to the new commander of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, Brazilian general, Urano Bacellar, who recently substituted another Brazilian general, Augusto Heleno Pereira.
The United Nations mission in Haiti consists of a total of 7,500 soldiers, of which 1,200 are Brazilian.
While in Porto Principe, the Haitian capital, Amorim will also visit the Haitian prime minister, Gerard Latortue, the representative of the UN secretary general, ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdez, and members of the Provisionary Electoral Council.
Amorim brought an important message: “We should stick to the election calendar and ensure that the elections are open, transparent and as democratic as possible.”
Elections are scheduled for November 15, with a runoff election on December 18. As there are 54 presidential candidates, a runoff is most probable. A new Haitian government should take office on February 15, 2006.
ABr