Annan commends Sri Lankan troops in Haiti

THE Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Haiti, Juan Cabriel Valdes, conveyed the appreciation of UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, for the contribution made by Sri Lankan troops to peace-building in Haiti when he called on Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike, in New York.

Commending the high discipline, professionalism, and commitment of the Sri Lankan troops in the UN Peacekeeping operations in Haiti (Minustah), Valdes briefed the Ministry that they were also engaged in many tasks, such as helping to rebuild the country's conflict-damaged infrastructure, and providing humanitarian support in times of natural disasters, a Foreign Ministry press release said.

Sri Lanka's contribution in this regard helped to strengthen the international community's efforts towards restoring democracy and freedom in Haiti, he said.

Bandaranaike thanked Valdes for conveying the UN Secretary General's appreciation. Emphasising that Sri Lanka's relations with the Central American region were expanding steadily, he expressed the hope that Haiti, assisted by the international community and the United Nations, would re-emerge as a free democratic nation in the near future.