CCOPAB recalls Brazilian achievements in Haiti in International Conference
The main goal of the International Conference “Brazil in Haiti, a successful story”, which was carried out by the Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center (CCOPAB, acronym in Portuguese), was to recall the outstanding performance of the Brazilian troops in the last 13 years serving the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH, acronym in French).
The Conference was held on October 18 and 19 at the Planalto Military Command, in Brasília, and it addressed relevant topics concerning the activities of which the military component of the Mission was in charge, such as: the beginning of the Mission, the stabilization of Haiti; humanitarian actions and the 2010 earthquake; Hurricane Matthew and the demobilization of the contingent.
Official Photo
The opening of the Conference counted on the attendance of the following authorities: Brazilian Defense Minister, Raul Jungmann and the Commanders of the Brazilian Armed Forces: Army General Eduardo Dias da Costa Villas Bôas; Lieutenant General (Air Force) Nivaldo Luiz Rossato, and Admiral Ilques Barbosa Júnior (acting Commander of the Brazilian Navy). Among the other attendees, there were the former Chief of The Board of Institutional Security of the Brazilian Presidency, Army General José Elito Carvalho Siqueira; former Brazilian Army Commander, Army General Enzo Martins Peri; President of the Foreign Affairs Board and National Defense of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Bruna Furlam; besides other general officers, foreign military personnel, attachés and members of the Armed Forces.
The first lecture of the Conference was delivered by Army General Enzo Martins Peri, who addressed the political and strategic perspectives during the first steps of MINUSTAH. He recalled the adversities the military component had to face in the very first years of the mission, which were marked by the clashes against Haitian gangs. Moreover, he also underscored the professionalism of the Brazilian troops in the quest for the accomplishment of their overarching mission.
The human facet of the Brazilian military personnel dealing with the Haitian population was approached by Ambassadress Roseana Aben-Athar Kipman. She said, “I myself saw the effort and dedication of men and women of the Brazilian Armed Forces, doing their best beyond their duty, mainly in the heartbreaking event of the earthquake. It was a touching experience of which all Brazilians should be aware”.
Some former MINUSTAH Force Commanders also participated as lecturers of the Conference, such as: Army General José Elito Carvalho Siqueira, Major General Floriano Peixoto Vieira Neto, Major General Luiz Guilherme Paul Cruz, Major General Luiz Eduardo Ramos and Major General Ajax Porto Pinheiro, who was the last Force Commander in Haiti. The Conference also counted on the lectures of the following participants: Major General André Luis Novaes Miranda, Commander of the 3rd Brazilian Battalion in MINUSTAH; Rear Admiral Carlos Chagas Vianna Braga, former Assistant of the first MINUSTAH Force Commander; Mr. Niky Fabiancic, Resident Coordinator of UN System in Brazil; Military Prosecutor Najla Nassif Palma; Air Brigadier José Maria Lins Calheiros, Coordinator of the Air Force Field Hospital that assisted the victims of the 2010 earthquake; Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Sérgio Luiz Cruz Aguila, Professor of Foreign Relations of the University of São Paulo State; Military Police Colonel Francisco Luiz da Fonseca Issa, Investigation and Intelligence Officer of IDP Camp Unit, UNPOL; Ambassadress Maria Luisa Escorel de Moraes, Director of International Organisms of the Ministry of Foreign Relations; Mr. Luis Kawaguti, Journalist
The book “The Brazilian Participation in MINUSTAH (2004-2017): perceptions, relevant lessons and practices for future missions”, which was produced by means of a partnership between CCOPAB and Igarapé Institute, was released. It comprises thirteen articles written by civilians and military personnel and it addresses the integrated effort made in MINUSTAH.
TRANSLATION: CPT CAMILA PAIVA
