GUINEA-BISSAU: TALKING POINTS FOR UNSC

UNCLAS STATE 106314

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SNAR PU XA XY
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: TALKING POINTS FOR UNSC
CONSULTATIONS


1. USUN is instructed to draw from the following talking
points for the October 6 UN Security Council
Consultations on Guinea-Bissau.

Begin points:

-- We would like to thank (DPA official) for his briefing on
the situation in Guinea-Bissau.

-- The United States is pleased by statements from President
Vieira and Prime Minister Correia that
legislative elections will remain scheduled for November 16.
The United States thanks the AU, the EU, ECOWAS,
UNOGBIS, and others for providing election observers to
ensure the elections will be free and
fair. We call on all parties to participate according to the
rules and to respect the election results. Any
disagreements over the elections or their results should be
handled only by judicial and constitutional means.

-- The United States remains concerned by the distrust and
high tensions between the political parties in
Guinea-Bissau. We note with concern the withdrawal from the
Political and Government Stability Pact (PGSP) by the
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape
Verde (PAIGC). We call on all parties to come together
to find common ground and work together for the good of
Guinea-Bissau.

-- We remain deeply concerned about the events surrounding
the July 12 arrival of a Venezuelan plane at Bissau
airport without landing or over-flight permits, or prior
knowledge of airport officials. We are particularly
concerned with the actions of some military officials in
these events. First, after the plane landed at Bissau
airport, the military of Guinea-Bissau cordoned off the plane
and took the cargo, which has yet to be returned or
even identified. Second, the military's description of the
cargo does not match statements given by the
Venezuelan crew. Finally, the military prevented
investigators from removing the plane's black-box. We were
very disappointed at the release of the Venezuelan crew by a
Bissauan criminal court judge despite the issuance of
an international arrest warrant against one of the
Venezuelans and protests by the Minister of Justice and
Attorney General.

-- Events such as these highlight the dangers
narco-trafficking poses to state institutions. The
international community must continue counter narcotics
programs to prevent fragile West African states from
becoming narco-states.

-- We welcome the arrangements to establish the National
Peacebuilding Fund Secretariat Office for Guinea-Bissau,
which will be hosted by UNOGBIS. Furthermore, we encourage
the UN implementing partners to expedite the implementation
of the Peacebuilding Fund's four short-term projects in
electoral support, youth employment and the rehabilitation of
prisons and military barracks.

-- On the economic situation in Guinea-Bissau, we see a mixed
picture. We are very concerned that Guinea-Bissau
was ranked 175th out of 177 countries in the 2007 Human
Development Index Report. We are also worried that over
the last six months, the price of rice has risen by 75% in
Guinea-Bissau. On the positive side, we welcome
the IMF disbursement of $2.9 million under the Emergency
Post-Conflict Assistance program. The IMF made the
decision following its positive report that four of the six
quantitative indicators set by the IMF were met
with the other two indicators expected to be met by the end
of the year. We are hopeful that Guinea-Bissau
soon will be eligible for the IMF's Poverty Reduction and
Growth Facility, which would qualify the country for debt
relief.

end points
RICE