S/PV.5107 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Guinea-Bissau, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in that country, contained in document S/2004/969. Members of the Council also have before them document S/2004/986, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1580 (2004). As this will perhaps be the last meeting of the Security Council during the month of December, I wish to thank all the members of the Council for their valuable contributions and cooperation during the presidency of Algeria. In particular, I pay a special tribute to the five elected members of the Council that are leaving this body at the end of the year: Angola, Chile, Germany, Pakistan and Spain. I also wish to thank the members of the Security Council secretariat and the support staff, including the conference officers, interpreters, security officers and all other personnel for their dedicated work and commendable efforts. Finally, I take this opportunity to wish everyone happy holidays and success, health and prosperity in the New Year. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.