S/PV.6089 Security Council

The President (spoke in Arabic): As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of March 2009, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Yukio Takasu, Permanent Representative of Japan, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of February 2009. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing our deepest appreciation to Ambassador Takasu and his team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council's business last month. Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted. The situation in Guinea-Bissau The President (spoke in Arabic): 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. After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "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. "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 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." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2009/2. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 12.15 19.711. 09-25350