Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE67997
2008-06-25 00:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

GUINEA-BISSAU: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND TALKING

Tags:  UNSC PREL PGOV SNAR PU XA XY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7997 1770017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 250018Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS STATE 067997 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PGOV SNAR PU XA XY
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND TALKING
POINTS FOR JUNE 25 CONSULTATIONS

UNCLAS STATE 067997

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PGOV SNAR PU XA XY
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND TALKING
POINTS FOR JUNE 25 CONSULTATIONS


1. This is an action cable. USUN is instructed to join
consensus on the Guinea-Bissau PRST (paragraph 3) set for
adoption on June 25. USUN may draw from the talking points
in paragraph 2 for the Security Council briefing scheduled
for the same day.


2. Begin talking points for briefing on Guinea-Bissau:

-- The United States thanks the Special Representative for
the Secretary General for Guinea-Bissau Shola Omoregie and
UNODC's Executive Director Antonio Mario Costa for their
briefings on the situation in Guinea-Bissau. Today, I would
like to make five points.

-- First, while some political and economic progress
continues in Guinea-Bissau, the United States
remains concerned about instability, especially due to a weak
security sector and the influence of drug trafficking. We
are especially concerned about the events of April 13th, when
members of the public order police attacked and vandalized
the judicial police headquarters in Bissau. The attack
culminated with the extrajudicial killing of a member of the
judicial police, who was in custody for the killing of a
public order police officer. We call for a full and
transparent investigation and prosecution of those involved
in this attack. There can be no room for vigilante justice
in the new Guinea-Bissau.

-- The United States is also deeply troubled by the large
increase in drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau in recent
years, and the negative consequences it has brought to
Guinea-Bissau and the region. We welcome the arrival of
the UNODC anti-narcotics and organized crime Special Adviser
to Guinea-Bissau. We are pleased UNODC will now
have a full time dedicated presence there to help the
Government combat this scourge.

-- Second, the United States welcomes the release of the
results of the UNDP-financed census of the armed forces of
Guinea-Bissau. While the Security Sector Reform program
envisions a reduction in the size of the armed forces from
4,458 personnel to 3,440, we remained concerned by the
top-heavy structure of the armed forces of Guinea-Bissau,
which impinges on Guinea-Bissau's economy and is an obstacle
to greater efficiency in the armed forces.

-- Third, we also welcome the approval of the Guinea-Bissau

Interim Priority Plan and the allocation of US $6 million
from the Peacebuilding Fund for the implementation of four
short-term project proposals. We encourage the Peacebuilding
Commission to continue its work in addressing issues of
anti-corruption, strengthening the
rule of law in consideration of the dangers of drug
trafficking and organized crime, and developing democratic
accountability.

-- Fourth, the United States remains very concerned with
child trafficking in Guinea-Bissau. Many children are
trafficked for forced begging by religious instructors,
called "marabouts" to other West African countries,
primarily Senegal. The parents entrust their sons to these
"marabouts," believing they will receive a religious
education. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous individuals
exploit the children and abuse them for their own profit. We
call on the Governments of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to
identify and prosecute the perpetrators of this illegal
activity and increase their efforts to prevent trafficking in
persons.

-- Fifth, we applaud the work of UNICEF and the UN Population
Fund to end female genital mutilation in Guinea-Bissau. We
are discouraged by the decision of the President of the
Parliamentary Commission for Women and Children Issues
(PCWCI) to remove a draft bill to ban the practice. We urge
the President of the PCWCI to reconsider his position
to help end this barbaric practice.

-- Guinea-Bissau still faces many challenges, but with the
help of the international community, the United Nations,
and bilateral support from its friends and neighbors,
Guinea-Bissau will overcome these obstacles.

End points


3. Begin PRST on Guinea-Bissau:

The Security Council was briefed on the situation in
Guinea-Bissau on 25 June 2008 by the Representative of the
Secretary-General, Mr. Shola Omoregie.

The Security Council welcomed the progress on the
preparations for the legislative elections scheduled for 16
November 2008 and commended the international partners for
their pledges in support of the elections. It urged the
international community to continue to provide technical,
material and financial resources in order to fill the current
gaps and ensure effective and timely elections. It called all
parties including the Government to ensure an environment
conducive for free and fair elections.

The Security Council reiterated its concern over the
activities related to drug trafficking and organized crime.
It noted with satisfaction the continued support provided by
the international community for the implementation of the
anti-narcotics operational plan. It called on the Government
to cooperate fully at regional and international levels in
order to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime. The
Council welcomed the decision of Cape Verde to host the
ECOWAS regional conference on drug trafficking and organized
crime in West Africa and called on the international
community to support the conference.

Furthermore, the Security Council welcomed the start of the
European Security and Defence Policy mission in Guinea-Bissau
and called on the donor community to continue to contribute
financially in order to complement the European Union's
support provided to Security Sector Reform, in particular in
law enforcement and criminal justice system.

The Security Council expressed support and encouragement for
the Government's collaboration with the Peacebuilding
Commission and looked forward to the country's strategic
framework for peacebuilding. It supported the
Secretary-General's recommendation on the strengthening of
UNOGBIS and the United Nations country team's capacities to
enable them support the process efficiently.

The Security Council welcomed the improved prospects for
economic recovery and stressed that budget support from the
international community will help the country to invest in
public services and infrastructures.

The Security Council reiterated its support for the action
undertaken by the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office
in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations country team and the
ECOWAS to ensure long lasting peace and stability.

End PRST.
RICE