GUINEA: UNSC ADOPTION OF PRST

UNCLAS STATE 110970

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SNAR PU XA XY
SUBJECT: GUINEA: UNSC ADOPTION OF PRST


1. USUN is instructed to join consensus on the UN Security
Council Presidential Statement (PRST) on Guinea to be adopted
on October 28 (para 2). USUN should refer any further
substantive changes on the PRST to the Department prior to
joining consensus for adoption.


2. Begin text:

The Security Council remains deeply concerned by the
situation in Guinea following the killings that occurred in
Conakry on 28 September, when members of the army opened fire
on civilians attending a rally. It strongly condemns the
violence that reportedly caused more than 150 deaths and
hundreds of wounded and other blatant violations of human
rights including numerous rapes and sexual crimes against
women, as well as the arbitrary arrest of peaceful
demonstrators and opposition party leaders. It notes the risk
that these events pose to regional peace and security.

The Security Council reiterates the need for the national
authorities to fight against impunity, bring the perpetrators
to justice, uphold the rule of law, including the respect for
basic human rights and release all the individuals who are
being denied due process under the law.

The Security Council welcomes the public statements by the
International Contact Group, the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, in particular
the communiqu of the African Union Peace and Security
Council meeting dated 15 October 2009 and the communiqu of
the ECOWAS Summit held on 17 October 2009. It welcomes the
mediation undertaken by President Blaise Compaore of Burkina
Faso, including his efforts to create a more conducive and
secure environment in Guinea, and calls upon the
international community to support his action.

The Security Council welcomes also the Secretary-General,s
willingness to establish an international commission of
inquiry to investigate the events of 28 September, in order
to ascertain the facts that took place, to identify the
perpetrators with a view to ensuring that those responsible
for violations are held accountable and to make
recommendations to him. It takes note of the ECOWAS Summit,s
statement supporting the Secretary-General,s decision. The
Security Council takes note further that the authorities of
Guinea have officially committed to support the work of the
international commission of inquiry in secure conditions.

The Security Council concurs fully with ECOWAS in stressing
the importance of the establishment of a new transitional
authority that would ensure credible, free and fair
elections, of ensuring that the Chairman and members of the
National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD),the
Prime Minister and those who hold high office in the new
transitional authority will not be candidates in the
forthcoming presidential elections and of setting up
benchmarks in the transition timetable. The Security Council
calls for the elections to be organized as scheduled in 2010.

The Security Council further recalls in this context its
resolution 1888 (2009),in which it urged the Secretary
General, Member States and the heads of regional
organizations to take measures to increase the representation
of women in mediation processes and decision-making processes
with regard to conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

The Security Council takes note of the decisions by the
African Union Peace and Security Council on 17 September and
15 October regarding the imposition of targeted sanctions
against the President of the CNDD and other individuals. It
also takes note of the decision of ECOWAS to impose an arms
embargo on Guinea. It takes note further that the African
Union Peace and Security Council will meet at the level of
Head of States on 29 October.

The Security Council expresses its intention to follow the
situation closely. It requests the Secretary-General to
update it as appropriate on the situation on the ground, the
potential implications for the sub-region, the international
investigation of the killings of the 28 September 2009 and
the measures taken by ECOWAS and by the African Union.
CLINTON