[News] South American Nations Approve Multilateral Reconstruction Fund for Haiti

[Anti-Imperialist News]

South American Nations Approve Multilateral Reconstruction Fund for Haiti

Published on February 10th 2010, by Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/5128

Caracas February 10, 2010 (venezuelanalysis.com) 
– South American nations agreed to contribute to 
a US$ 100 million reconstruction fund for 
earthquake ravaged Haiti at an extraordinary 
summit of the Union of South American Nations 
(UNASUR) in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday.

Contributions to the fund will depend on the GDP 
of each member country. The twelve member 
countries will also ask for a USD200 million loan 
from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on 
behalf of Haiti, but paid for by UNASUR.

The reconstruction fund will be under the direct 
control of the Haitian government and will 
prioritize transport, in particular construction 
of roads, infrastructure projects and 
agricultural production including donations of 
seeds, inputs, fertilizers and a team of specialists.

The accord also seeks to enhance measures already 
implemented by the South American Health Council, 
such as sending doctors and specialists to treat 
the sick and wounded and implement epidemic prevention measures.

The resolution also called for the lifting of 
trade tariffs on Haitian exports and backed a 
call for cancellation of Haiti’s foreign debt. 
However, apart from Venezuela, none of the UNASUR 
member countries have agreed to cancel Haiti’s debt.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the 
cancellation of Haiti’s USD 295 million debt to 
Venezuela on January 25.  In addition to 
thousands of tons of food aid Venezuela has also 
sent 225,000 barrels of diesel fuel and gasoline 
and Chavez has pledged “all the free fuel that Haiti needs.”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicholas Maduro, who 
attended the summit in place of Chavez who was 
unable to go, emphasized that the UNASUR accord 
ratifies the concept of respect for Haitian 
sovereignty and added, “The repudiation of many 
governments around the world of the hegemonic, 
abusive form in which U.S. military has sought to 
address the issue of Haiti is very clear.”

In contrast to the US role, Maduro highlighted of 
the role of ALBA, a Venezuelan supported regional 
fair-trade bloc, which has pledged US$120 million 
in reconstruction funds, and in addition to food 
and medical aid, is providing programs where 
children are cared for, given classes, do sports 
and recreational activities among other things.

“It's an experience of direct solidarity, of 
people to people solidarity, where more than 520 
Venezuelans, thousands of Cubans as well as 
Bolivians, Nicaraguans, Ecuadorians, through ALBA 
have gone [to Haiti]”, he said.




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