The Presidents Reply

 to the Remarks of the newly appointed

 Ambassador of the Republic of Haiti.

Raymond Alcide Joseph

Upon the occasion of the presentation

of his letter of credence

Mr. Ambassador

It is with great pleasure that I accept your letter of credence from President Alexandre which establishes you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Haiti to the United States of America and I acknowledge the letter of recall of your distinguished predecessor.

As the first free republic in the Caribbean, Haiti holds a proud place in the history of the western hemisphere when too many nations still held men in bondage. Haiti stood as a beacon of human freedom and anti-colonialism. The United States and Haiti share a bond of history, friendship and kinship that grows stronger every day. We look forward to continuing this friendship for years to come.

Haiti has faced many challenges over the past 19 months including devastating floods caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne, and debilitating gang violence. The elections to be held in the coming months will usher in a democratically elected government with a mandate from the Haitian people to provide a brighter future for all. Much work remains, but the encouraging steps to be taken thus far are a sign of the Haitian people’s desire for positive change and a new way of life. Elections must go forward in a timely manner. Establishing democratically elected government is the most important task before your country, and one that we and the international community have worked tirelessly to support.

The interim Government of Haiti has taken steps to promote justice and democracy. Haitian officials have made important strides combating corruption and promoting justice sector reform; we believe their leadership is making progress. However, the task before the team is great, and the need for dramatic change is urgent. I encourage them to redouble their efforts to ensure that this government turns over the reigns of government with an impeccable record and puts the next government in the best position to administer Haiti in a just, transparent and democratic manner.

The United States is confident that democracy will prevail in Haiti. Rest assured that we will continue our support of freedom in Haiti. The United States looks forward to cooperating with the Haitian government as we work together towards a better future for all Haitians.