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