Brazil Calls For
Cancellation Of Haiti's Debt
PORT AU PRINCE - Visiting Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday
called all creditor countries and agencies
to write off Haiti's external debt so that
the Caribbean country can apply for new
loans to finance the reconstruction after
the Jan. 12 devastating earthquake.
During the ceremony for signing several
agreements with Haiti, Lula said "it is time
for the world to express solidarity
forgiving that debt, which amounts to about
1,300 million dollars. "
He told Haiti President Rene Preval that a
special meeting of South American Nations
Union (UNASUR) has decided to donate 100
million dollars for Haiti.
The Brazilian leader arrived in Haiti
Thursday morning for his first visit since
the quake, and has flown over the capital
Port- au-Prince to verify the situation in
the worst affected areas of the city.
"The Brazilian government will do everything
that is possible, and especially in
agreement with the government of Haiti," he
stressed.
"We are subordinate to the orientation of
the government of Haiti, to what they want
us to do and how we should do it. We are not
coming from Brazil and do things the way we
want. This country has a government
legitimately elected," he stressed.
In his dialogue with Preval, the president
explained, in addition to debt forgiveness,
a priority to start the reconstruction
process was detected.
"A priority is to collect the debris of the
earthquake and organize camping areas.
Preval's idea of making small camps for no
tumult is correct. Coordination of Haiti and
the UN will make a survey on how many
machines we need to do that job, which will
be conducted in short, medium and long
term," he said.
Preval said that his idea is to avoid large
camps because people prefer to remain in the
neighborhoods they used to live before the
quake. After removing the debris, it would
be possible to organize settlements for
between 50 and 100 families.
Da Silva said that if Brazil already had a
very strong policy of solidarity, after
having seen the picture of the calamity with
their own eyes, all efforts to help the
country will be made.
"Things in Haiti are more serious than we
imagined. It is not easy, but at this time
of sorrow and despair it is necessary to
raise the head and hope that Haiti will
emerge from this crisis stronger. This
country which was the first to reach
independence will not curve before another
adversity," he said.
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