GUINEA-BISSAU: UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT FOR

UNCLAS STATE 114026 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SNAR PU XA XY SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT FOR NOVEMBER 5 ¶1. This is an action request. USUN is instructed to join consensus in the Security Council on a Presidential Statement on Guinea-Bissau in paragraph 2. USUN should refer any further substantive changes on the Presidential Statement to the Department prior to joining consensus for adoption. ¶2. Begin text: -- The Security Council recalls its previous statements on Guinea-Bissau, and notes the latest report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) (S/2009/552). The Council reaffirms its support for the continuing efforts to consolidate peace in that country. -- The Security Council welcomes the peaceful presidential elections on 28 June and 26 July 2009, and the inauguration of President Malam Bacai Sanha on 8 September. It also takes note of the new President,s commitment to combat impunity, foster national reconciliation and achieve socio-economic development. -- The Security Council reiterates the importance of national reconciliation and the fight against impunity for sustainable peace in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, it welcomes the ongoing consultations between the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and the United Nations, to assist the Government of Guinea-Bissau in carrying out a credible, thorough, and timely investigation into the political assassinations of March and June 2009. The Security Council calls upon those organizations and the international community as a whole to expedite assistance to the national Commission of Inquiry established for this purpose. -- The Council also takes note of the National Assembly,s plans to convene a national conference on &Conflicts in Guinea-Bissau: causes, prevention, resolution and consequences,8 and underscores the need to conduct an inclusive political dialogue process built upon other initiatives aimed at ensuring national reconciliation in the country. -- The Security Council underlines the importance of the challenges faced by the Government of Guinea-Bissau, in particular the security sector reform, as well as the growth in illegal drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, and, in this regard, calls upon the international partners to continue their support, including for the implementation of the quick-impacts projects. The Council notes the progress made in the implementation of the security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau, in particular with the support from the European Union and other regional and bilateral partners, and reiterates its request for the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau and UNIOGBIS, to assist the Government,s coordination efforts in this area. -- The Council welcomes the progress made in implementing the West Africa Coast Initiative involving ECOWAS, UNODC, DPKO, DPA and INTERPOL in support of the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking in West Africa, and calls on the international partners to continue supporting this partnership and the efforts of the national authorities to strengthen activities on policing and internal security as part of the security sector reform process. In this regard, the Council notes the importance of strengthening the judiciary sector and control of Guinea-Bissau,s borders. -- The Security Council calls on the international community to provide timely and adequate support for the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau. It takes note of the preparations for the first review of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau adopted in October 2008, and looks forward to its finalization. -- The Security Council welcomes the ongoing planning for the transition of UNOGBIS to an Integrated Peacebuilding Office (UNIOGBIS) on 1 January 2010, and looks forward to completion of staffing and the subsequent rapid deployment of personnel to Guinea-Bissau in order to facilitate the development of an Integrated Strategic Framework, including a strategic workplan with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress on the implementation of the new office,s mandate. -- The Security Council reiterates its support for the peacebuilding process in Guinea-Bissau and, in this regard, welcomes the role of the ECOWAS, the African Union, the CPLP and the European Union, in this area. -- The Security Council commends the Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of UNOGBIS, as well as the United Nations country team, the Peacebuilding Commission country-specific configuration on Guinea-Bissau for their contribution to peace, democracy and the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau. CLINTON