Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK209
2009-03-04 22:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:
UN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON GUINEA-BISSAU
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0209/01 0632240 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 042240Z MAR 09 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5992 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0247
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000209
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC PU SG XY
SUBJECT: UN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON GUINEA-BISSAU
ASSASSINATIONS
REF: DAKAR 263
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000209
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC PU SG XY
SUBJECT: UN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON GUINEA-BISSAU
ASSASSINATIONS
REF: DAKAR 263
1. (SBU) At the request of Burkina Faso, the UN Department of
Political Affairs (DPA) briefed the Security Council on March
3 on the events surrounding the assassinations of
Guinea-Bissau President Joao Vieira and Armed Forces Chief of
Staff General Tagme Na Wai. DPA Deputy Director for Africa
Joh Epoko told the Council that Tagme was killed by an
explosion at his headquarters late on March 1 and that Vieira
was shot and killed early on March 2 by what a military
spokesman called "unidentified citizens" who entered his
private residence. Epoko said several military personnel had
been injured in the two attacks but no private citizens.
2. (SBU) Epoko said Guinea-Bissau's institutions of
government were continuing to function and there is no
indication that the assassinations reflected an attempted
coup d'etat. He said the Guinea-Bissau constitution calls
for the president of the National Assembly, Raimundo Pereira,
to assume the presidency in these circumstances on an interim
basis and that presidential elections must be held within 60
days. He added that Prime Minister Carlos Gomes remained in
office.
3. (SBU) Epoko said that Representative of the
Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau Joseph Mutaboba is acting
as coordinator of international community efforts in
Guinea-Bissau and had been instructed by the SYG to
coordinate closely with UNGOBIS, ECOWAS, the African Union,
and the European Union.
4. (SBU) To Ambassador Rice's question about possible UN
assistance for the elections to be scheduled, Epoko replied
that a UN technical assessment mission (TAM) that had been
scheduled to depart for Guinea-Bissau on March 10 would now
be delayed and would consider the elections issue along with
the Security Sector Reform efforts that were to have been the
TAM's primary focus. To several questions about previous bad
blood between Vieira and Tagme and a possible connection
between their deaths, Epoko said only that investigation
would focus on this possible link.
5. (SBU) Ugandan PermRep Rugunda said the Security Council,
knowing of the problems between Vieira and Tagme, should have
more actively monitored the situation. French PermRep Ripert
emphasized that calm had returned to Guinea Bissau and that
there appeared to be little prospect that these tragic events
would trigger civil war.
6. (SBU) Burkina Faso drafted a Presidential Statement
(PRST),which condemned the assassinations and called for the
preservation of the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.
The PRST was adopted as UN Document S/2009/PRST/2. The text
follows.
7.(U) Guinea Bissau PRST. Begin Text.
- The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the
assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao
Bernardo Vieira, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces,
Tagme Na Waie, on 1 and 2 March 2009. It expresses its deep
sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and
to the people and Government of Guinea-Bissau.
- The Security Council calls on the Government of
Guinea-Bissau to bring to justice those responsible for these
violent acts. It calls upon the Government, the political
leaders, the Armed Forces and people of Guinea-Bissau to
remain calm, exercise restraint, maintain stability and
constitutional order and respect the rule of law and the
democratic process. It also urges all parties to resolve
their disputes through political and peaceful means within
the framework of its democratic institutions and opposes any
attempt to change the government through unconstitutional
means.
- The Security Council welcomes in this regard the statements
condemning the incidents by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of
West African States, the European Union and other members of
the international community, and calls on all to assist in
preserving the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau and to
continue to support peacebuilding efforts in the country.
- The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to support
the efforts of the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau to
consolidate democratic institutions, peace and stability in
that country.
- The Security Council shall remain seized of the
developments in Guinea-Bissau.
End text.
Rice
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC PU SG XY
SUBJECT: UN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON GUINEA-BISSAU
ASSASSINATIONS
REF: DAKAR 263
1. (SBU) At the request of Burkina Faso, the UN Department of
Political Affairs (DPA) briefed the Security Council on March
3 on the events surrounding the assassinations of
Guinea-Bissau President Joao Vieira and Armed Forces Chief of
Staff General Tagme Na Wai. DPA Deputy Director for Africa
Joh Epoko told the Council that Tagme was killed by an
explosion at his headquarters late on March 1 and that Vieira
was shot and killed early on March 2 by what a military
spokesman called "unidentified citizens" who entered his
private residence. Epoko said several military personnel had
been injured in the two attacks but no private citizens.
2. (SBU) Epoko said Guinea-Bissau's institutions of
government were continuing to function and there is no
indication that the assassinations reflected an attempted
coup d'etat. He said the Guinea-Bissau constitution calls
for the president of the National Assembly, Raimundo Pereira,
to assume the presidency in these circumstances on an interim
basis and that presidential elections must be held within 60
days. He added that Prime Minister Carlos Gomes remained in
office.
3. (SBU) Epoko said that Representative of the
Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau Joseph Mutaboba is acting
as coordinator of international community efforts in
Guinea-Bissau and had been instructed by the SYG to
coordinate closely with UNGOBIS, ECOWAS, the African Union,
and the European Union.
4. (SBU) To Ambassador Rice's question about possible UN
assistance for the elections to be scheduled, Epoko replied
that a UN technical assessment mission (TAM) that had been
scheduled to depart for Guinea-Bissau on March 10 would now
be delayed and would consider the elections issue along with
the Security Sector Reform efforts that were to have been the
TAM's primary focus. To several questions about previous bad
blood between Vieira and Tagme and a possible connection
between their deaths, Epoko said only that investigation
would focus on this possible link.
5. (SBU) Ugandan PermRep Rugunda said the Security Council,
knowing of the problems between Vieira and Tagme, should have
more actively monitored the situation. French PermRep Ripert
emphasized that calm had returned to Guinea Bissau and that
there appeared to be little prospect that these tragic events
would trigger civil war.
6. (SBU) Burkina Faso drafted a Presidential Statement
(PRST),which condemned the assassinations and called for the
preservation of the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.
The PRST was adopted as UN Document S/2009/PRST/2. The text
follows.
7.(U) Guinea Bissau PRST. Begin Text.
- The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the
assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao
Bernardo Vieira, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces,
Tagme Na Waie, on 1 and 2 March 2009. It expresses its deep
sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and
to the people and Government of Guinea-Bissau.
- The Security Council calls on the Government of
Guinea-Bissau to bring to justice those responsible for these
violent acts. It calls upon the Government, the political
leaders, the Armed Forces and people of Guinea-Bissau to
remain calm, exercise restraint, maintain stability and
constitutional order and respect the rule of law and the
democratic process. It also urges all parties to resolve
their disputes through political and peaceful means within
the framework of its democratic institutions and opposes any
attempt to change the government through unconstitutional
means.
- The Security Council welcomes in this regard the statements
condemning the incidents by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of
West African States, the European Union and other members of
the international community, and calls on all to assist in
preserving the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau and to
continue to support peacebuilding efforts in the country.
- The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to support
the efforts of the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau to
consolidate democratic institutions, peace and stability in
that country.
- The Security Council shall remain seized of the
developments in Guinea-Bissau.
End text.
Rice