Haiti's interim leader Edgard Leblanc Fils used his Thursday address at the United Nations General Assembly to chastize the United States for those Americans who have been concerned about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio causing mass traffic incidents and allegedly eating cats and geese, a claim which has not been neither confirmed nor refuted.
“The long history of friendship and mutual solidarity between our two nations, since our participation in the Battle of Savannah in 1779, allows us to say with confidence that the American people reject any incitement to hatred against our community,” Leblanc said. “The active participation of Haitian immigrants at various levels of American life is tangible and significant.”
“In this respect, the passions that naturally emerge during an election campaign should never be used as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country like the United States, a nation forged by immigrants of all origins and which has set itself up as a model of democracy on a global scale,” he continued.
Leblanc also demanded retribution against from fellow UN members, stating that the international community is responsible for Haiti's recovery as a country after it was a"great victim of a historical injustice that has … delayed its development," naming France for hindering its success after it claimed independence in 1791. France forced Haiti to pay $21 billion in 1825 to retain its sovereignty.
“On the eve of the bicentenary of this unprecedented event in the history of the world, has the time not come for the restitution of these sums?” Leblanc asked.
“The long history of friendship and mutual solidarity between our two nations, since our participation in the Battle of Savannah in 1779, allows us to say with confidence that the American people reject any incitement to hatred against our community,” Leblanc said. “The active participation of Haitian immigrants at various levels of American life is tangible and significant.”
“In this respect, the passions that naturally emerge during an election campaign should never be used as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country like the United States, a nation forged by immigrants of all origins and which has set itself up as a model of democracy on a global scale,” he continued.
Leblanc also demanded retribution against from fellow UN members, stating that the international community is responsible for Haiti's recovery as a country after it was a"great victim of a historical injustice that has … delayed its development," naming France for hindering its success after it claimed independence in 1791. France forced Haiti to pay $21 billion in 1825 to retain its sovereignty.
“On the eve of the bicentenary of this unprecedented event in the history of the world, has the time not come for the restitution of these sums?” Leblanc asked.
