The UN Security Council said Monday that it remains committed to supporting the Haitian people in pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity.

Masood Khan, president of the Security Council for this month, reaffirmed the commitment in a statement issued here after the UN body received a briefing by Mariano Fernandez, special representative for the secretary-general for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

In the statement, the members of the UN body recognized the progress achieved in the security area and emphasized "the importance of strengthening the rule of law and reforming the security sector to consolidate stability."

The Security Council also anticipated "development of a conditions-based consolidation plan for MINUSTAH as the United Nations works toward a sustainable and responsible future end to the peacekeeping mission in Haiti."

The statement also reiterated the need for security to be accompanied by social and economic development, and urged all political actors in Haiti to redouble their efforts to preserve the stability and progress achieved over the past year.

In particular, the most powerful UN body underscored the importance of "holding free, fair, inclusive and credible elections by the end of 2013 to nurture political stability and create an environment conducive to socio-economic development."

MINUSTAH "stands ready to provide logistical and security support for those elections," added the statement.

MINUSTAH was established on June 1, 2004, by UN Security Council Resolution 1542, aiming at restoring a secure and stable environment and strengthening Haiti's government institutions and rule-of-law structures, among others.

It has also helped support Haiti's authorities with recovery efforts in the wake of the massive earthquake that struck in January 2010.

At the end of last year, Haitian President Michel Martelly promised to hold mid-term elections this year, during which the Haitians will elect one third of the Senate, 142 mayors and 570 deputies nationwide.