End of Haiti peacekeeping within reach: UN

UNITED NATIONS - The UN peacekeeping chief said Wednesday that the end of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti is "within reach".

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told the Security Council that the United Nations supports the Haitian leaders' wish to end the mandate of the UN mission known as MINUJUSTH in October.

The United Nations also supports the leaders' wish that Haitian authorities completely take over the security of the country, he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended continuing to assist Haiti through a small strategic advisory office.

Lacroix said the recommendation is based on the assessments of the most urgent needs and represents the ideal format to address these needs.

If this recommendation is adopted, he said, the UN mission would work, in the next six months, to assist the priorities put forward by the leaders and people of Haiti while preparing for a smooth transition to a post-peacekeeping UN presence.