STATEMENT BY MR. AHMED ABOUL GHEIT

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

ON THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in his capacity as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, today expressed his shock at the extent of the damage inflicted by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday 12 January.

He expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of life that resulted from the earthquake and conveyed his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Haiti during these extremely challenging times.

Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed his confidence that the international community, the United Nations, and other international and regional organizations, would launch a concerted global response to provide the humanitarian assistance that the Government and people of Haiti will need in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, as well as to assist Haiti with its longer-term recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Mr. Aboul Gheit also praised the rapid response of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in support of the recovery efforts already underway in Haiti, and expressed his concern at reports that UN personnel are among those who have lost their lives as a result of the earthquake. In this connection, he expressed his support for and solidarity with the troop contributing countries to MINUSTAH, many of whom are member or observer states of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mr. Aboul Gheit affirmed that NAM will continue to offer its full solidarity and assistance to the Government and people of Haiti to overcome this crisis, and welcomed the efforts of those NAM member states that have already provided assistance or offered to contribute to the relief efforts underway in the country, and pledged that NAM will, for its part, continue to mobilize the wider international community for this important purpose.