By DPA,
New York/Washington : Former US president Bill Clinton will help jumpstart Haiti’s economic and social conditions in his new role as UN special envoy for the impoverished Caribbean nation, the world body said Tuesday.
Clinton was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the new task months after the two of them visited Haiti to hold talks with government leaders about programmes to rebuild the country following last year’s devastation caused by consecutive hurricanes.
“As special envoy, Clinton will help jumpstart social and economic recovery efforts in Haiti,” the UN said in a statement. “He will focus attention on the importance of new partnership and efforts among the private sector, civil society and donors as well as strengthen local capacity, and create a more stable and prosperous future for Haiti.”
The statement said Ban is confident that the former US president will bring “energy, dynamism and focus” to the task of assisting Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction.
Clinton had served as a UN special envoy to help Southeast Asian nations devastated by the tsunami in December 2004, which originated in the Indian Ocean. He was praised for his efforts.
Last September, Clinton launched the programme Call to Action for Haiti as part of the well-known Clinton Global Initiative to assist developing countries.
The former president is no stranger to Haiti. While in the White House, Clinton forced the Haitian military junta, which tried to oust the government in 1991, to step aside for a restoration of the elected government, under threat of US invasion.