OAS: Conference on Haiti's future seeks "to define strategy"

May 31, 2010, 20:45 GMT

Washington - The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday described this week's conference on Haiti's recovery from January's earthquake as a chance to 'define a strategy of solidarity' with the Caribbean country.

The Conference on the Future of Haiti is set to start Tuesday in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

'The path to development for the Caribbean nation cannot wait, so I hope the summit in Punta Cana allows us to define a strategy of solidarity with this country, which will solve the timing and the political and technical issues of international aid,' said OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza.

Haiti, which has long been the poorest country in the Americas, was ravaged by a major earthquake on January 12.

Insulza said there is an 'urgent' need to fulfil international commitments for the reconstruction of Haiti and for strengthening its democratic system.

The two-day conference has been called by the governments of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Spain, in its capacity as the current president of the European Union. It is intended as evidence of the interest that the Americas and Europe have in Haiti's future.