S/PV.6648 Security Council

I thank Mr. Mutaboba for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mrs. Viotti. Mrs. Viotti: I am pleased to brief the Council in my capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration of Guinea-Bissau, Her Excellency Ms. Maria Helena Nosolini Embaló. I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, for his briefing and for his work as head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). I welcome Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins, Permanent Representative of Angola and Chair of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP). Since I last briefed the Council (see S/PV.6569), I had the opportunity to visit Guinea-Bissau in early September. During my trip, I witnessed visible signs of progress, in terms of both stability and economic growth. The Government of Guinea-Bissau has made considerable efforts to implement key peacebuilding priorities in recent months. Concrete achievements in the realm of macroeconomic improvements, fiscal discipline and infrastructure development have induced an important virtuous circle, in spite of the difficult global economic environment. On the political side, I was glad to note that stability is taking hold. The current Government has been the most stable and long-lasting since 1997. I also noted, however, that most interlocutors continue to view stability as fragile. In this context, the full implementation of security sector reform (SSR) continues to be considered one of the highest priorities and a step that will greatly contribute to sustainable peace and development. Stability taking root is, of course, contingent upon achieving other peacebuilding priorities, notably upholding the rule of law, expanding job creation and combating organized crime, including illicit drug trafficking. The urgency of focusing on SSR was widely recognized by all interlocutors during my visit. To this end, the launching of a pension fund for the armed forces and security forces personnel to be demobilized is regarded as an important instrument to assist the reform. This process, coupled with the training of the remaining contingent and the recruitment of new personnel, will gradually improve the professionalism of the armed forces and internal law enforcement personnel. The road map on SSR developed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community of Portuguese- speaking Countries offers a very relevant tool to support governmental SSR efforts. It makes those efforts part of a wider international cooperation framework, built through a tripartite dialogue among the Government of Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS and CPLP. This commendable example of regional cooperation also enjoys the support of the Peacebuilding Commission. The Government of Guinea-Bissau has already implemented some of the requested measures, such as instituting a follow-up committee on the pension fund, revamping the SSR national steering committee, and drafting a tripartite memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the joint ECOWAS/CPLP road map, which has been officially presented to ECOWAS and CPLP for comments. The negotiations on the memorandum of understanding are at an advanced stage, and its signature is expected soon. Coinciding with my visit to Bissau, the Government deposited, on 2 September, a total of $200,000, as a first tranche of its initial contribution to the pension fund. The Government is also considering making an additional contribution by the end of this year. These are welcome signs of Guinea-Bissau’s commitment and engagement in this process. During my stay in Bissau, I felt that the Government is fully committed to SSR. It is now essential that the international community provide timely and steady support, in particular through technical expertise and financial resources, to make the pension fund operational. Although resources have been pledged, they have not yet been disbursed. In this regard, the Government of Guinea-Bissau requested the assistance of the Peacebuilding Commission to organize a high-level event on SSR in New York by the end of this year. The holding of such a high-level meeting can contribute to building trust and to bringing international partners together to support Guinea-Bissau in addressing key peacebuilding challenges. Members of the configuration have agreed that the Peacebuilding Commission should present a list of elements for the Government’s consideration, to assist in the preparations for the proposed high-level event on security sector reform, especially on the operationalization of the pension fund. I wrote to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau on 24 September, listing those elements for the Government’s consideration. I am pleased to say that progress has also been made in the fight against drug trafficking. The Government of Guinea-Bissau adopted the operational plan to combat drug trafficking. The Transnational Crime Unit (TCU) is operational and its Management Board has met regularly. INTERPOL has set up an office in Bissau. Continuing international cooperation will be needed to support the TCU in implementing its ongoing activities. The configuration also shares that concern, and intends to advocate for an increase in the financial resources disbursed in support of the West Africa Coast Initiative. As I indicated previously, the Government of Guinea-Bissau has been able to achieve important progress in macroeconomic policy over the past few years. Improvements in the economic sector resulted from an exceptional cashew nut harvest, enhanced financial and fiscal discipline and the implementation of public work projects. It is also worth noting that the Secretary-General has allocated up to $16.8 million from the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) to the implementation of the 2011-2013 Peacebuilding Priority Plan for Guinea- Bissau. Likewise, the PBF Joint Steering Committee has approved the four draft projects jointly designed by the Government and the United Nations country team. Those projects focus on supporting security sector reform, promoting job creation as a peace dividend for youth and women, and boosting political dialogue and national reconciliation. The Peacebuilding Commission continues to be committed to a proactive approach in its engagement with Guinea-Bissau. This will involve improving coordination efforts with other actors. The national authorities of Guinea-Bissau and international partners must work towards a deeper relationship of mutual commitment and trust, geared towards sustainable peace and development for Guinea-Bissau and the subregion. The international community should rise to the challenge of supporting the maintenance of political stability and economic progress that the country has experienced over the past few years. We must take advantage of this positive momentum and persevere in our collective efforts to support Guinea-Bissau.

I thank Mrs. Viotti for her briefing. (spoke in English) I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Helena Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration of Guinea-Bissau.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, His Excellency Mr. Carlos Gomes Júnior, asked me to send his warmest greetings to the Security Council and to convey to it the importance that we attach to this meeting of the Council, which once again confirms its readiness to support the Government’s efforts to stabilize the country. Whenever we have an opportunity such as this, we wish to highlight our recognition of how the Security Council has played its strategic role of maintaining international peace and security in a world where threats and urgent and complex issues require appropriate responses. With regard to Guinea-Bissau, the Council’s actions have been steady and careful, and have revealed its proper understanding of the challenges we face. That has been the basis for its effective action, which has created the environment of confidence and optimism that we are currently experiencing in our country, supported by the assistance that we have been receiving from the United Nations. We therefore welcome United Nations efforts to promote stability and peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau, and for that reason we pay tribute to the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea- Bissau (UNIOGBIS), through its Head and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, who, with integrity and great sense of purpose, has contributed to revitalizing and strengthening national reconciliation and dialogue. Allow me to express what an honour and privilege it is for me to participate in this meeting of the Security Council to outline the developments in Guinea-Bissau since the Council’s most recent meeting on the topic (see S/PV.6569). Over the past three years, my country has shown perseverance and determination in implementing its governmental agenda. The acceleration of structural reforms in areas critical for development has helped to normalize the social and political spheres and restore public trust. The long periods of political instability that dragged the country into a vicious circle of serious imbalances and exacted a massive toll by delaying the normal course of development, have now given way to a more favourable political context, characterized by economic recovery and the renewed confidence of internal and external partners. Today, I can report that our people enjoy, with some sense of euphoria, the gains that governmental stability has brought to the country. That progress has enabled the country to move from a dramatic budgetary situation to a more stable position, thanks to greater control over public spending, increased tax revenues and the substantial reduction of public debt. Despite the massive uncertainties currently prevailing in the international context, rising exports have benefited the national economy and have compensated for shrinking international aid flows. In that regard, the country’s GDP growth has surpassed its historical trend of 1.8 per cent over the past 10 years and is forecasted to reach 5.3 per cent this year, compared with 3.5 per cent in 2010, in a context of moderate price stability. Those successes were based on careful and efficient economic governance, building on bold reforms and on the gradual improvement of living conditions, thanks to the revitalization of some industries and improvements in basic infrastructure and the delivery of social services. In the framework of implementing security and defence sector reform, it is worth highlighting the Government’s efforts to set up a special pension fund. The special pension fund is a step in the process of restructuring the defence and security forces and will ensure that all members who retire from active duty for reasons of age, seniority or disability receive a fair pension. Despite the consensus reached on the essential role of the pension fund as a key pillar of security and defence sector reform, its start-up of operations is significantly behind schedule, owing mainly to delays in the financial contributions that will constitute the fund. Guinea-Bissau has shown its firm commitment to promptly beginning the process by adopting most of the legal instruments that frame the reforms, in accordance with the expert studies carried out in the framework of our cooperation with the European Union. As evidence of that commitment and along the lines previously agreed and accepted by all, the Government organized the public bidding process to select the banking institution to be entrusted with management of the fund. More recently, it deposited 40 per cent of its annual contribution into the account opened in the bank selected, and made a commitment to deposit an additional $300,000 by the end of the current budget year, which will complete the target amount set for this year. Once we receive the contributions announced by some donors, namely, the United Nations through the Peacebuilding Fund, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and Angola, the Government is ready to offer the additional guarantees necessary to safeguard the exclusive use of the fund’s resources for the purposes for which it was created. In that regard, the framework agreement signed between the Government and the bank in question provides for the signature of additional protocols to ensure that the specific financial procedures of each donor are respected. At this stage in the process, the financial contribution of ECOWAS is contingent on the signature of a memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Government to implement defence and security sector reforms. As is well known, the framework of support for and follow-up to the road map is established in the memorandum, as is a set of priority actions, such as the operationalization of the pension fund. A draft memorandum of understanding is already available, and its signature will be made possible with the final decision of ECOWAS. The Government estimates that a rapid response from that institution will allow for the implementation of the decision of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS which, in March 2011, approved the special financial package to support the road map in the amount of $63 million and will have the additional merit of highlighting the role of ECOWAS in the consolidation of the process of regional integration and, in particular, in the strengthening of peace and security in Guinea-Bissau. The conclusion of consultations with the European Union until article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement and the resulting commitments undertaken by the Government created the conditions for the resumption of EU support for security sector reform. As the Council is aware, the Government has maintained a constructive political dialogue with the European Union in a follow-up committee that meets regularly to assess the implementation of the road map that emerged from the consultations. To complete the picture of the commitments already announced for the financing of the pension fund, it is worth mentioning the contributions of the Government of Angola in the framework of our bilateral cooperation and of the Peacebuilding Fund. The Government welcomes these efforts and calls for their implementation as soon as possible. The efforts of the Government that I have just described should be appreciated and valued by the donor community, which must show greater flexibility. One can only be healed after treatment and not the other way around. It is therefore only reasonable to ask for results after creating the conditions necessary for obtaining them. In order for the work done so far not to be seen as a handful of salt thrown into the sea, to use a popular expression, and in order for our commitments not to be reduced to mere rhetoric, we must proceed to the high-level meeting scheduled to take place later this month under the auspices of the United Nations. The meeting, which is part of a strategy to deepen the political dialogue with the Government, should continue to receive special attention. Indeed, it was in this conviction — which we understand is shared by our partners — that we adopted, without hesitation and often at high social and political cost, the comprehensive legislative package of reforms with a view to implementing measures to monitor the payment of wages in the public sector, including the defence and security forces, and to raise awareness of and improve communication on the goals of the reform and other elements deemed necessary to ensure its operability. In short, we have created the conditions, once considered a major challenge, for the establishment of the special pension fund and the launch of the demobilization process. We now call for greater engagement by all in these efforts, failing which we risk undermining the significant efforts made to date and sowing doubt among the beneficiaries of the process with regard to the capacity and interest of some in successfully concluding this process. As far as the Government is concerned, the process will begin so long as conditions are in place to cover the costs related to the payment of pensions for the first two years of the fund’s operation. The launch of the fund will allow us to face many of the challenges that we have been confronted with, such as the gradual replenishment of the military command and improved training for new recruits. Together with other actions, including demobilization and reintegration into active life, security sector reform will be further energized. The Government welcomes the adoption of the employment programme within the framework of the Peacebuilding Fund, which includes employment solutions for demobilized military personnel as well as other projects of a similar nature already under way with the support of the European Union. The issue of impunity continues to be highlighted as one of the causes of Guinea-Bissau’s fragility and as a threat to social peace. The examples that are often cited are the excessive delay in the investigation of crimes, the lack of State authority, which would indicate leadership deficits, and lack of technical and financial capacities to ensure the rule of law. The Government views these shortcomings as challenges and is therefore committed to moving forward with its programme of justice sector reform. So far, clear results have been obtained in the rehabilitation of prisons and penal system reform, in strengthening criminal justice legislation and national capacities, and in implementing mechanisms to facilitate access to information and impartial justice. These results demonstrate the appropriateness of the choices made to strengthen the judiciary and improve its operations in accordance with full respect for democratic principles, in particular the principle of separation of powers. The creation of the first model police station, the Offices of Information and Judiciary Support and the creation of the Judiciary Training Centre fall within this new dynamic. The promotion of professional training for judicial officers, the access of all citizens to justice and the dissemination of a new paradigm between citizens and the police are critical factors for the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law. This framework also includes measures taken to combat transnational organized crime, especially drug trafficking, terrorism and money-laundering, at the subregional level, through the West Africa Coast Initiative, and at the national level. The strategy and the action plan to combat drugs were warmly welcomed by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who has just completed a working visit to Guinea-Bissau. In addition, the support provided by the representative of the Attorney-General of the United States should also be praised and enhanced so that we can take advantage of their enormous experience in this field. With the assistance of UNODC and France, we are working on a plan to combat money-laundering that will also rely on the support of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa and the National Unit for the Processing of Financial Information, which has already been created in our country. There is also an ongoing programme to strengthen the channels of communication among the different agencies of the system and to enhance the sharing of information collected from different sources. INTERPOL, which now has a local office, will play a central role in this process. The will and determination of the Government to implement these strategies is a necessary but insufficient condition for their success. The lack of financial means and the imposition of conditionalities for their disbursement have been the main causes of delays in the process. The interconnection in Guinea-Bissau among the political, security, justice, economic and social development dimensions is unequivocal and generally accepted by donors and local actors, as well as by national civil society institutions, all of which recognize that only in a climate of peace and political stability can the country achieve sustainable development and economic and social progress. That is why, in the recently revised and reformulated country strategy paper, defence, security and justice sector reforms were included in the first section under the title “Strengthening the rule of law and republican institutions”. This axis refers to the structures and authority of the State, as well as to its ability to implement new practices of political and administrative governance in order to establish the rule of law and lasting security for the population and its property. Among the actions to be taken in this area, I note measures to improve the human rights situation and mechanisms to prevent and manage crises. The separation of powers, the primacy of the law and the establishment of an independent and technically and culturally able judiciary are the cornerstones of the rule of law that we wish for our country. For us, that necessarily implies accelerating and stabilizing the defence and security sector reform process. Respect for democratic principles, particularly through holding free, transparent and regular elections and leaving behind the former practice of seizing power through force, completes the picture outlined above, incorporating the democratic components within the regular functioning of institutions. That will be the main guarantee of stability for our country, which will allow it to turn a corner and break the cycle of political instability that has marked it in recent years. The other elements of the national poverty reduction strategy aim at providing responses to the characteristic challenges of the country in the area of development, where priorities and needs in the Guinean context require a more inclusive approach in which social and human needs cannot be relegated to the background. The country still has a low level of human development and faces complex and wide- ranging challenges in terms of poverty. Thus strategies, policies, programmes and actions that could significantly reduce poverty in its multiple dimensions, generate increased income and employment opportunities, and improve access to basic public services that meet basic quality standards have been envisioned over a five-year period. As we have reiterated several times in international forums, implementation of those strategies depends on the effective support of the international community, particularly in the social sectors. To follow up those ideas, we have already started preparations to organize a donor round table next year with a view to mobilizing funds to implement the national plan to combat poverty. The high-level meeting on defence and security sector reform scheduled for this year is part of the Government’s strategy to raise awareness and mobilize resources and partnerships. We hereby renew our appreciation for everything that has been done by those who have supported us in this massive effort to raise awareness and begin implementation of the reforms. I refer to the Economic Community of West African States, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the African Union, the European Union, and particularly to countries such as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Portugal, Nigeria and Senegal for all they have done to ensure that the voice of Guinea-Bissau is heard around the world. We count on the wholehearted support of the Security Council and of the entire international community, from whom we ask for engagement with Guinea-Bissau, as has already occurred with some of our partners, so that we can jointly implement the programmes that will boost the country’s economic and social development and transform it into a prosperous and exemplary nation. Those are the matters I wish to highlight at this juncture.

I thank the Minister for her statement. (spoke in English) I now give the floor to Mr. Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins, Permanent Representative of Angola, who will also speak on behalf of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries.

I address the Security Council on behalf of the member countries of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP): Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor- Leste and my country, Angola, which is the current President of the Community. I would like to pay tribute to Her Excellency Helena Embaló, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration of Guinea-Bissau. It is with great satisfaction that we participate in this important meeting of the Security Council, which has Brazil and Portugal as non-permanent members. The meeting focuses on the report of the Secretary- General on the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) (S/2011/655), which has been presented by our friend and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Joseph Mutaboba. I wish to highlight the issues related to security sector reform. Guinea-Bissau faces challenges in several areas, such as the need to subordinate military power to the civil authorities, the demobilization and reintegration of members of the armed forces and the struggle against impunity and drug trafficking. We should recognize the progress made in those areas in recent months and encourage the Government of Guinea-Bissau to intensify its efforts towards stability and development. The security sector reform road map for Guinea- Bissau developed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the CPLP is an indispensable contribution to the response to the various challenges facing the country. As demonstrated in the recent summit in Luanda, the CPLP is committed to the effective implementation of the road map, including the operationalization of the pension fund for retired armed forces and police personnel. However, the operationalization of that fund is conditioned on the availability of financing from the other partners to the stabilization process in Guinea-Bissau. We welcome the decision of the Government of Guinea-Bissau to deposit $200,000 into the pension fund, despite the country’s known financial limitations. That deposit will be followed by another contribution of $300,000 by the end of 2011, which will create conditions for the effective establishment of the pension fund. That is an essential condition for the success of the demobilization and reintegration of the armed forces of Guinea-Bissau. In that context, the CPLP also encourages the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) to make available $3 million to accelerate establishment of the pension fund in Guinea-Bissau. Implementation of the ECOWAS-CPLP road map will not be possible without the understanding of the international and bilateral partners with respect to the need to mobilize additional funds to contribute to the success of the process. We consider that to be an essential element in ensuring the sustainability and irreversibility of the peacebuilding and political stabilization processes in Guinea-Bissau. The lack of financial resources and sometimes the excessive politicization of the assistance required by Guinea- Bissau have been a negative influence in the dynamic of that process. Faced with that reality, the technical, material and financial contributions made available by CPLP and ECOWAS, and bilaterally by the Republic of Angola and other CPLP members, are examples to be followed as to how the principle of solidarity and international cooperation should be applied. Each member of the CPLP has its own experiences and lessons learned with respect to peacebuilding. The CPLP considers that complementarity between the various aspects of peace and security, economic recovery, and the rule of law is fundamental in the process of political stabilization and national reconciliation. The rule of law and the struggle against drug trafficking are some of the elements of the peacebuilding process. Therefore, international mobilization of additional resources that may contribute to the implementation of the national poverty reduction strategy cannot be put in second place. Also in this area, the PBF contribution to various socio-economic projects could serve as an example for other partners to follow. The CPLP welcomes the visit by the delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Office for West Africa to assess the negative impact of drugs on Guinea-Bissau and the West Africa subregion. At the same time, the CPLP congratulates and supports the recent commitment of ECOWAS authorities to mobilize the West African countries in the combat against transnational organized crime. Close collaboration with the High-Level Policy Committee of the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI) is fundamental. WACI offers a response that is appropriate to the transnational nature of drug trafficking through the establishment of transnational crime units in the countries that join the Initiative. It is urgent that the international community supports the operationalization of those units in Guinea Bissau. To conclude, the CPLP is convinced that the international community must remain engaged in the stabilization process in Guinea Bissau. We hope that the United Nations can continue to play a central role in that process.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.