United Nations (New York)
7 October 2008
(Page 2 of 4)
Despite the difficulty in culling data, the volume of drug trafficking through Guinea-Bissau is greater than previously believed, the Secretary-General says. "I am especially concerned about reports that Guinea-Bissau is no longer merely a transit hub, but appears to be fast becoming a major market place in the drug trade."
He repeats his appeal to the Security Council to adopt strong measures and consider dispatching a team of experts to investigate the scourge in the West African nation.
On a more positive note, the Secretary-General welcomes the advances made in Guinea-Bissau by the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, saying he is particularly pleased to note the active implementation of the four "quick-impact" projects under the short-term engagement of the Peacebuilding Fund.
B. LYNN PASCOE, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Council that Guinea-Bissau had come a long way since the civil war of the late 1990s, but all those gains would be at risk if the menace of the illicit drug trade was not confronted head-on through a regional approach.
He recounted that Prime Minister Carlos Correia was appointed on 5 August to head a caretaker Government after the previous Government fell, and had repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to hold legislative elections on 16 November as scheduled. Preparations for those polls were on track and at least 27 of the 34 registered parities would be participating in the elections. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau were coordinating international donors and electoral observation, respectively. To date, international electoral observers were expected from the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union. He appealed to donors to fill the shortfall of $4 million.
As elections approached, there was an uneasy calm in the country, he said. An unsuccessful coup allegedly led by the Chief of Staff of the Navy in August was now under full investigation, according to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. In addition, the country's difficulty in paying public sector salaries in a timely manner continued to exacerbate social, political and security tensions, which were also being heightened by the rise of commodity prices. The World Bank approved a $5 million grant to help the country cope with such prices in the short term, and the Government had reduced taxes on rice imports.
The Government, he said, had also taken concrete measures towards security sector reform, with support of the international community. The United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau would make further recommendations on ways and means of supporting those efforts. There was also much progress being made in ongoing cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission.
Returning to the drug issue, he said current international efforts to help strengthen national capacity, especially support for the judicial sector, were not sufficient. He supported the Secretary-General's recommendation for sending an expert panel to study the problem, ahead of the high-level ECOWAS conference on the drug problems of the region to be held in Cape Verde from 28 to 29 October. The "punitive targeted sanctions" referred to in the Secretary-General's report, he clarified, were not meant to be directed at any country but rather at individuals involved in the illicit trade.
"The drug trafficking threat is a major challenge to Guinea-Bissau and to its neighbours, many of which are still recovering from long periods of civil conflicts," he said. Tackling it vigorously and resolutely was essential for the success of ongoing peacebuilding initiatives.
MARIA LUIZA RIBEIRO VIOTTI (Brazil), Chair of the Guinea-Bissau Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, informed the Council that an integrated Strategic Framework for peacebuilding in the country was formally adopted by her group on 1 October, as the result of an extensive consultative process that bound the Government and all relevant stakeholders in a set of commitments. The active engagement of civil society meant that the framework was owned by Guinea-Bissau as a whole. It dealt with the root causes of conflict and other fundamental issues that would need to be addressed in the coming years.
The political situation in the country remained calm, she said. The change of Government was pursued within the framework of the Constitution, with many key ministers kept in office. The fact that the attempted coup d'état did not succeed was seen as a demonstration that resorting to force was no longer supported as a means of solving disputes and that the military remained willing to adhere to civilian rule. The imminent priority was now the successful holding of legislative elections on 16 November. With the conclusion of voter registration, the publication of the list of candidates and new pledges by donors' preparation for those polls were well under way. The Peacebuilding Commission stood ready to support and monitor the electoral process.
The framework of the Constitution also considered the reactivation of the economy and the rehabilitation of infrastructure as key priorities. A country with rich agricultural potential, Guinea-Bissau needed support to draw investment, diversify and add value to its products, to create employment, create wealth and provide the Government with revenues that would allow it to provide services. In that regard, she welcomed ongoing discussions with the World Bank and the conclusion of procedures that could provide additional electrical generation.
She said she was pleased to note progress in crucial sector reform, following the active engagement of the European Union and ECOWAS. The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process had already been launched, with the selection of military officials who would be trained in agriculture in Brazil with the support of ECOWAS, in order to prepare for integration into civilian life.
The strengthening of the justice sector, the consolidation of the rule of law and the fight against drug trafficking were matters of growing concern, she said. It required strengthening the capacity of national authorities to secure the country's borders and bring criminals to justice, for which purpose the fulfillment of donor pledges was critically needed. She said that Guinea-Bissau had a legitimate Government that was earnestly working to achieve stability and development and deserved greater international support. In that regard, public sector reform initiatives were under way towards transparency in financial management and the country's performance under the International Monetary Fund's Post-Conflict Assistance Programme had paved the way for discussions to begin on a regular assistance programme. There were also social issues critical to peacekeeping, such as the poor health and educational conditions, which required unwavering attention.
Because of its evolving nature and the need for international support, the adoption of the Strategic Framework for Guinea-Bissau did not signal the end of international engagement there, but the start of taking concrete measures to provide the country with much-needed peace dividends. The Peacebuilding Commission would proceed to marshal additional resources and support enhanced coordination among different partners in the country to make that happen.
Statements
MICHEL KAFANDO ( Burkina Faso ) said notable progress had been made in many areas, but Guinea-Bissau was still faced with instability and the drug trade. The political instability had gone on for a long time. Reconstruction was impossible if there was no national reconciliation. The Council must therefore call upon all political actors to commit themselves to progress in the political process. One way of ensuring the success of the upcoming election was an improvement in the security situation, which was fragile because of the drug trade and organized crime. The international community must continue to give support to the Government in combating the phenomenon. The Government must pursue security sector reform.
He said the real solution to the problems was the economic reconstruction of the country. Economic development was the major challenge. In that context, the Council should call for strengthening economic management and financial transparency. Implementation of the quick-impact projects by the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Commission had been very important. It was vital for the successful implementation of the Strategic Framework that the monitoring and evaluation system was established as soon as possible. He called for prudence regarding establishing a group of experts.
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