United Nations Radio

Donors and international financial institutions renewed their commitment to Haiti Tuesday, pledging more than $320 million toward the country's economic recovery over the next two years. The money will go towards building roads, fighting drug traffickers and generating as many as 150,000 jobs in the country. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told donors at a day-long conference at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington D.C, that Haiti is at a turning point." He says while Haiti may count among the world's poorer nations, the fact is that its prospects are better than almost any other emerging economy.

The Organization of American States says Haiti is at a unique juncture in its history

The Organization of American States (OAS) sees the invitation from the UN Security Council as a reaffirmation of the ongoing strong collaboration between the UN Secretariat and the OAS on the ground in Haiti.  Deputy Secretary-General of the OAS Albert Ramdin said Haiti is at a unique and important juncture in its history. He says whereas in the past, the focus has been on the strengthening and maintenance of democracy, the electoral process and stable governance, the OAS believes the time has come to redirect collective efforts to create economic opportunities through short-term initiatives, thus laying the foundations for a structural path to growth and development.

The World Food Programme expresses concern over the current levels of poverty, deprivation and suffering in Haiti

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it is convinced that the current levels of poverty, deprivation and suffering described in Haiti, are clearly incompatible with the goal of long-term stability. Pedro Medrano is Director for the Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Food Programme.

The General Assembly for the first time will deal with the issue of a new financial, economic, monetary and trade architecture

For the first time, the issue of a new financial, economic, monetary and trade architecture would be dealt with in the General Assembly. That's what Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann told a press conference at UN headquarters while providing an update on the forthcoming high-level conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development which is scheduled for the 1-3 June.
Mr. d'Escoto characterized the conference as one of the most important events in the history of the United Nations.

Producer: Donn Bobb
duration: 15'00