Haiti at turning point; engagement needed

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (UPI) -- The future stability of Haiti is at a critical turning point and needs sustained international engagement, according to a top U.N. official.

Hedi Annabi, head of the U.N. mission in Haiti, addressed the U.N. Security Council on Monday in New York and said Haiti is currently in a position to end its ongoing cycle of instability, the United Nations reported.

Annabi said that despite the global economic downturn, Haiti may be able to break with its long past of security problems and begin making improvements if the international community steps forward to provide support to the Caribbean nation.

"Sustained international engagement is critical to enable Haiti to take advantage of a unique moment of opportunity," Annabi said in a statement.

"The nation now has its best chance in decades to break from the destructive cycles of the past and to move toward a brighter future."

Annabi said Haiti has been taking needed steps toward security and that because of the duty-free, quota-free access the Caribbean nation currently has with the United States thanks to the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, the country is at a "turning point."