Security Council Press Statement on Elections in Guinea

 

The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Ertuğrul Apakan (Turkey):

The members of the Security Council were briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun on the situation in Guinea.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the clashes that occurred on 11 and 12 September in Guinea, in which one person died and at least 50 others were injured.

The members of the Security Council regretted the postponement of the second round of the presidential elections and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to set a new date and organize it as soon as possible.  The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of ensuring a peaceful, free and fair electoral process in Guinea, the only way to re-establish the constitutional and democratic order.  They urged all national stakeholders to uphold the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission and to support its efforts towards the organization of transparent and peaceful elections.

The members of the Security Council called on the Guinean authorities and the candidates in the second round of the presidential election to meet their own commitments and obligations, including the “Protocole d’Accord de Ouagadougou pour une élection apaisée” signed on 3 September 2010, under the aegis of the Facilitator, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council called on the Guinean authorities to take all the appropriate measures to promote a calm and peaceful electoral environment.  They urged the supporters of the two presidential candidates to refrain from any provocation, incitement to hatred or recourse to violence.  In this context the members of the Security Council welcomed the Interim President, General Sekouba Konaté’s declaration on the strict neutrality of the army in the electoral process.

The members of the Security Council will continue to closely follow the situation on the ground in Guinea.

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For information media • not an official record