21 November 2008
The Security Council today welcomed last weekend's legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau and called on the political parties in the troubled West African country to respect the results.
Last Sunday's polls were held on schedule "in an orderly and peaceful manner," and both the Government and the people deserve commendation for their efforts, the Council said in a press statement read out by Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, which holds the presidency of the 15-member panel this month.
"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," Mr. Urbina said.
He added that the major political parties and leaders must respect the election results and resolve any related concerns peacefully and in a way that conforms with the rule of law.
Guinea-Bissau is one of a handful of States on the agenda of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, which aims to help poor countries avoid sliding back into war or chaos. The country has struggled to combat growth in drug trafficking and organized crime, and also to sustain economic growth and political stability amid a series of civil conflicts and coups d'état in recent decades.
Today's press statement called on 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."
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