Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Colonel Thompson. I apologize, I had to make a telephone call. However, I have read your comments and I have a few questions I would like to ask you.
First of all, everyone including the International Crisis Group and others, agree that the first 100 days are extremely important and that security must be ensured quickly and impunity must end.
I would like to quote a passage from an editorial that appeared in a Haitian newspaper on June 6, yesterday:
When we listen to the news and the reactions here and there in the homes and in the media, one is tempted to say that we are far from being out of the woods. The facts: - A rise in crime, and an increase in kidnappings and killings of police officers. - Denunciation of the abuse of power of some magistrates by police officials. The denunciation supported by human rights associations caused members of the corporation to come to the defence of the dignity of the judiciary. - A renewal of the pro-Aristide agitation whose main demands are well known and which seeks to apply intimidating pressure on the new government—
So we need to ensure security, but at the same time, we have a great deal of hope, something we have not had for a number of years. However, the fact remains that the situation is extremely fragile.
Would you be prepared to recommend that we send more police officers and soldiers, particularly French-speakers, to help with the reconstruction? I refer to French-speakers, because I know that when you went to Haiti, after extending your mission by three months, you were asked to stay on, because language is so important in fragile situations of this type.