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At the 6105th meeting of the Security Council, held on 9 April 2009, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Guinea-Bissau", the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

"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). The Council reaffirms its support for the continuing efforts to consolidate peace in that country.

"The Security Council welcomes the swearing-in as Interim President of Guinea-Bissau of M. Raimundo Pereira and notes with satisfaction the commitment of the new authorities to maintain the constitutional order, following the assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira and of the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces, Tagme Na Waie, and to deepen national consensus on the transition and the electoral process.

"The Security Council also welcomes the convening of the presidential election for 28 June 2009, and urges the Government and all political actors to create the best conditions for the holding of a free, fair, transparent and credible presidential election. It welcomes the assistance already provided by bilateral and multilateral partners to support the electoral budget, and calls upon the donors to continue to provide technical and financial assistance for the electoral process.

"The Security Council takes note of the Final communiqué of the 26th Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council expressing the need to deploy military and police contingents to ensure the protection of the republican institutions, the authorities, as well as the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, the Security Council invites ECOWAS to work in coordination with the Government of Guinea-Bissau.

"The Security Council condemns recent cases of arbitrary detentions, armed attacks and intimidation, and demands a full protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of the people of Guinea-Bissau. It urges the Armed Forces leadership to ensure that its commitment to abide by the civilian authorities and respect constitutional order is fully honoured.

"The Security Council stresses the importance of national reconciliation and the fight against impunity in Guinea-Bissau, and calls on the international community to support the Commission of Inquiry established to investigate the assassinations of the President and of the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces.

"The Security Council reiterates the importance of the security sector reform (SSR) in Guinea-Bissau, and in this regard, urges the international partners to continue to support the implementation of the quick-impact projects. It welcomes the convening of a roundtable on Guinea-Bissau's Security Sector Reform with a view to follow up the coordination and the implementation of the identified projects and programs on SSR, to be held in Praia, Cape Verde, on 20 April 2009.

"The Security Council remains seriously concerned by the growth in illegal drug trafficking, as well as transnational organized crime in Guinea-Bissau and in the sub-region. It commends the joint action of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Department of Political Affairs/UNOWA, Department of Peacekeeping Operation and INTERPOL to help implement the ECOWAS Plan of Action against drug trafficking. It calls upon the international community to continue to support the implementation of the Guinea-Bissau anti-narcotics operational Plan, as well as of the ECOWAS Plan of Action.

"The Security Council calls on the international community to provide timely and adequate support for the implementation of the Strategic Peacebuilding Framework adopted by the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). It looks forward to a sustainable mobilization of resources for economic reconstruction and peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau.

"The Security Council reiterates the importance of the regional dimension in the resolution of the problems faced by Guinea-Bissau and, in this regard, welcomes the role of the African Union, ECOWAS, CPLP, and the European Union in the peace-building process.

"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. The Security Council reiterates that it looks forward to receiving recommendations from the Secretary-General on how the United Nations presence in Guinea-Bissau should be reconfigured to support
peacebuilding more effectively."

The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Ibrahim Dabbashi (Libya): 1. 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 the Government of Guinea-Bissau.

"2. 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 the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, exercise restrain, 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.

"3. 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 al to assist in preserving the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau and to continue to support peacebuilding efforts in the country.

"4. 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.

"5. The Security Council shall remain seized of the developments in Guinea-Bissau."

The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Neven Jurica (Croatia):

The members of the Security Council were briefed on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) on 11 December 2008 by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the successful organization of the legislative elections on 16 November 2008 and called upon the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to ensure the installation of the new Parliament and Government as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern over the security situation in Guinea-Bissau, and their support to the implementation of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) Programme in Guinea-Bissau. They called on UNOGBIS and the United Nations more broadly to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders already engaged in support to Guinea-Bissau on SSR, including the European Union.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the successful holding in Praia ( Cape Verde) on 28-29 October 2008 of the "ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat to West Africa", and took note of the resulting draft Political Declaration and Regional Action Plan. They looked forward to their adoption by the next ECOWAS Summit and called for their implementation. They also welcomed the creation of the National Commission on Human Rights of Guinea-Bissau.

The members of the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to elaborate recommendations on transforming UNOGBIS into an integrated office, and looked forward to considering these recommendations.

The members of the Security Council underscored the need for continued support to Guinea-Bissau and commended once again the contribution of the country's bilateral and multilateral partners and UNOGBIS, to the peacebuilding process in Guinea-Bissau.

The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation to the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie, for his contribution to peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau and wish him success in his future endeavours.

New York - The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the violent attack on the residence of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira, on 23 November 2008 by military elements. The members of the Security Council regretted that such a serious incident occurred after the peaceful and orderly elections of 16 November 2008.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their full support to the democratic process.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to bring to justice those responsible for this attack, and urged all parties in Guinea-Bissau to cooperate actively with the authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council also urged all parties to resolve any disputes through political and peaceful means within the framework of the rule of law. The members of the Security Council stressed that the international community would not accept a return to violence.

The following Security Council press statement on Guinea-Bissau was read out today by Council President Jorge Urbina (Costa Rica):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the holding on 16 November 2008 of the legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau, as scheduled, in an orderly and peaceful manner. They congratulated the Government and the people of Guinea-Bissau for their commendable commitment and mobilization on that occasion.

The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the National Electoral Commission in organizing these elections, and the contribution of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) and other multilateral and bilateral partners to the process.

The members of the Council called on the political parties and leaders of Guinea-Bissau to respect the results of the elections and to resolve any related concerns through peaceful means, respecting the rule of law.

The members of the Security Council encouraged the international community to continue to support Guinea-Bissau on its path to peace and security, particularly through the implementation of the Peacebuilding Commission's integrated peacebuilding strategy.

The following Security Council press statement on Guinea-Bissau was read out today by Council President Alejandro D. Wolff (United States):

The Security Council was briefed on the situation in Guinea-Bissau on 25 June by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie, by the Executive Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa and by the Chair of the country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission for Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.

The members of the Council welcomed the progress on the preparations for the legislative elections scheduled for 16 November 2008 and call upon the Government of Guinea-Bissau and all parties to ensure an environment conducive to free and fair elections. They commended the international partners for their pledges in support of the elections and they 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.

The members of the Council reiterated their concern over the acute threat posed by drug trafficking and organized crime to the peace-consolidation process in Guinea-Bissau. They noted the efforts by the Government of Guinea-Bissau with the continued support by the international community in the implementation of the anti-narcotics operational plan and called on the international community to further enhance support for national and regional efforts to combat this scourge. They applauded the recent steps taken by the Government to bring drug traffickers to justice and recommended prompt follow-up to these actions.

They called on the Government to cooperate fully at regional and international levels in order to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime. They welcomed the decision of Cape Verde to host the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) regional Conference on drug trafficking and organized crime in West Africa.

The members of the Council reiterated the importance of security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau and urged the Government to intensify its efforts on all aspects of reform of the security sector. They 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 and law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

The members of the 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. They stand ready to consider, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Secretary-General, in particular to strengthen the capacity of United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) and the United Nations country team to provide the required support to the peacebuilding process in an integrated and efficient manner.

The members of the Council reiterated their support for the action undertaken by the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), in the peacebuilding process in Guinea-Bissau.

The following Security Council press statement on Guinea-Bissau was read out today by Council President Vitaly Churkin ( Russian Federation):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing on 26 March 2008 by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie, on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, on the basis of the latest Secretary-General's report. Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Permanent Representative of Brazil and Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission's Country-Specific Configuration on Guinea-Bissau, also briefed the Council on the Peacebuilding Commission's engagement with the country.

Members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support for the continuing efforts made by the Government of Guinea-Bissau, working in close cooperation with its partners, to consolidate peace in the country.

Members of the Council noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission Country-Specific Configuration on Guinea-Bissau to develop a strategic peacebuilding framework, aiming at setting key priorities for consolidating peace and therefore allowing progress towards sustainable development in Guinea Bissau. Members of the Security Council looked forward to further advice from the Peacebuilding Commission as requested.

Members of the Council welcomed the outcome of the Lisbon International Conference on Drug Trafficking held on 19 December 2007, and supported the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative to convene a regional conference on the subject. Members of the Security Council appealed to the international community to assist the Government and provide enhanced support and training for Guinea-Bissau's law enforcement and criminal justice system within the wider framework of security-sector reform and the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.

Members of the Security Council welcomed the launch of the security-sector reform programme in January 2008 and the efforts made by donor countries and regional organizations, in particular the European Union and ECOWAS, to assist in implementing the programme.

Members of the Security Council noted with satisfaction the announcement made by President Joao Bernardo Vieira to hold legislative elections on 16 November 2008. They called on the Government to accelerate the preparations for these elections. They further appealed to the international community to provide the financial and material resources necessary to ensure the effective and timely organization of the polls.

Members of the Security Council recognized and commended the important role played by the Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, as well as by the United Nations Country Team, and in this regard recall the request to the Secretary-General contained in presidential statement S/PRST/2007/38 to present proposals on how best the United Nations could provide effective assistance in an integrated and holistic manner to national efforts.