Security Council Press statement on Guinea-Bissau

 

The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Neven Jurica ( Croatia):

The members of the Security Council were briefed on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) on 11 December 2008 by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the successful organization of the legislative elections on 16 November 2008 and called upon the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to ensure the installation of the new Parliament and Government as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern over the security situation in Guinea-Bissau, and their support to the implementation of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) Programme in Guinea-Bissau.  They called on UNOGBIS and the United Nations more broadly to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders already engaged in support to Guinea-Bissau on SSR, including the European Union.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the successful holding in Praia ( Cape Verde) on 28-29 October 2008 of the “ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat to West Africa”, and took note of the resulting draft Political Declaration and Regional Action Plan.  They looked forward to their adoption by the next ECOWAS Summit and called for their implementation.  They also welcomed the creation of the National Commission on Human Rights of Guinea-Bissau.

The members of the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to elaborate recommendations on transforming UNOGBIS into an integrated office, and looked forward to considering these recommendations.

The members of the Security Council underscored the need for continued support to Guinea-Bissau and commended once again the contribution of the country’s bilateral and multilateral partners and UNOGBIS, to the peacebuilding process in Guinea-Bissau.

The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation to the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie, for his contribution to peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau and wish him success in his future endeavours.

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For information media • not an official record