SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS FORMER United States PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON

AS UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HAITI

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed former United States President William J. Clinton to the position of United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti.

The appointment builds on Mr. Clinton’s extensive engagement with Haiti, both while serving in the White House and most recently through his Call to Action on Haiti at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2008.  Mr. Clinton also accompanied the Secretary-General to Haiti in March, during the Secretary-General’s visit to raise global awareness of the Caribbean nation’s needs.

As Special Envoy, Mr. Clinton will help jump-start social and economic recovery efforts in Haiti.  He will focus attention on the importance of new partnerships 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 Secretary-General is confident that President Clinton will bring energy, dynamism and focus to the task of sustaining world interest in Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.  Mr. Clinton previously served as the United Nations Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

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For information media • not an official record