Diplomatic talks between senior Haitian government officials and representatives of the Organization of American States have wrapped up this week with a shared commitment to speed up efforts to bring long-term security and stability back to the crisis-battered Caribbean nation. The meeting, held at Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was hosted by Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, who received Alberto Fohrig, the OAS Special Representative to Haiti. Fohrig was joined on the visit by Catherine Pognat, the OAS Country Representative for Haiti.
During the discussion, Minister Forbin outlined the core priority actions advanced by Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s transitional administration. These priorities center on three critical goals: reversing widespread insecurity, rebuilding weakened state institutions, and preparing to hold national elections that meet international standards of being free, inclusive, transparent and credible. Beyond institutional and electoral priorities, Forbin also stressed the non-negotiable importance of three additional priorities: supporting the reintegration of vulnerable youth into Haitian society, addressing the deepening national humanitarian crisis, and fully restoring constitutional order to the country.
A major focal point of the talks was advancing the implementation of the OAS’s pre-existing strategic roadmap for Haiti. Forbin pushed for the formalization of a clear, binding implementation timeline for the roadmap, while reaffirming Haitian authorities’ long-standing commitment to ongoing collaboration with the hemispheric organization. She emphasized that the ultimate goal of this partnership is to turn agreed-upon policy commitments into tangible, measurable outcomes that directly improve the lives of ordinary Haitian citizens. Both sides left the meeting aligned on the urgent need to speed up all ongoing work to restore lasting security and stability across Haiti.
Representatives from the OAS welcomed the concrete progress the Haitian government has already made on its core priorities, and reiterated that the organization stands ready to continue supporting Haitian efforts across three key areas: security sector strengthening, democratic governance building, and the development of a functional electoral process.
The meeting also created space to explore the critical role that religious leaders and grassroots civil society organizations can play in advancing peace, encouraging civic responsibility, and mending fractured social cohesion across Haiti. Forbin shared detailed outcomes from the recently concluded National Conference of Religious Leaders for Peace, Stability, and Civic Responsibility, alongside outlining the next steps for the ongoing initiative.
In closing, Forbin praised the OAS for its unwavering commitment to Haiti amid the country’s ongoing challenges, and reaffirmed the Haitian government’s dedication to maintaining close, productive cooperation with all of its international partners as it works to pull the nation out of crisis.