S/PV.6774 Security Council

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2048 (2012). I shall now give the floor to the members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

Portugal welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2048 (2012). We thank all delegations for the very active cooperation that they lent us in order to draft it. We see the resolution as another step forward in the Security Council’s response to the military coup that interrupted the democratic electoral process in Guinea-Bissau on 12 April. The resolution imposes targeted sanctions on the authors of the coup and those who support that illegal act. Today, the Council has yet again sent a strong message of condemnation and reiterated its policy of zero-tolerance towards unconstitutional seizures of power. Coups d’état against legitimate democratic authorities are simply unacceptable, as is the illegal disruption of an electoral process that is internationally regarded to have been free and fair. Political solutions that exclude and exile those with the greatest democratic electoral support while empowering individuals who were electorally defeated are equally unacceptable. That is a fundamental principle in any democratic State based on the rule of law. Portugal views the imposition of sanctions as an instrument to exert pressure on those who reversed the democratic process by illegally usurping power. We are gravely concerned by increasing reports of recurrent human rights violations by the so-called military command, and recall that all those responsible for such violations must be held accountable. In that regard, we underline the Council’s measures to consider further measures in view of the evolution of the situation. The resolution that we have just adopted also stresses the importance of mediation in seeking a solution to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. Portugal fully supports any mediation process that ensures an effective and credible restoration of the constitutional order. The resolution also underscores the importance of effective coordination among international partners, namely, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Community of Portuguese- speaking Countries and the European Union. Such coordination should involve the active engagement of the United Nations. Any successful solution will require a joint effort by all. Therefore, Portugal expects the resolution to foster greater cohesiveness and unity of purpose among the various efforts under way. Portugal stands ready to actively contribute to that objective.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting of the Security Council, which has made it possible for us to adopt resolution 2048 (2012). I should like to take this opportunity once again to express to you our appreciation for the outstanding manner in which you have led the Council’s work during this month. Lastly, I should like to express the gratitude of the delegation of Togo to all the members of the Council, who spared no effort to make it possible for Togo to join the consensus that led to the adoption of the resolution. Togo joined that consensus owing to the efforts of all members of the Council, especially those of Portugal, to preserve the unity of the Council on an issue of concern to the West Africa region. Nevertheless, we were surprised to note that — barring a misreading on our part — paragraph 2, which refers to the need for coordination among the partners concerned in the situation in Guinea-Bissau, did not figure in the draft before the Council this morning. Even if that language poses no problem for the delegation of Togo, we think that the spirit of transparency that underpins all negotiations should be respected in the future. Another aspect of the draft resolution pertains to the inclusion of the phrase “illicit drug trafficking”. In the course of discussions, and especially those at the experts’ level, Togo noted that the use of such language was not appropriate to the West Africa region, even though that phrase is acceptable when it comes to other regions of the world. A similar position was expressed in February when the Council negotiated and adopted the 21 February presidential statement (S/PRST/2012/2). The delegation of Togo would like to point out that it agreed to the adoption of the resolution with that language as a demonstration of flexibility. However, we believe that, in the future, the Council should continue to refer to drug trafficking in West Africa without making a distinction as to whether it is licit or illicit in nature.

Morocco voted in favour of resolution 2048 (2012) because it sends a strong and unanimous message from the Council calling for the restoration of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau. My country also voted in favour in the light of its constant commitment to, and particular interest in, peace, stability and the rule of law in the western part of our continent, with which Morocco has long-standing relations and multifaceted partnerships. When the crisis in Guinea-Bissau began, Morocco was among the first countries to condemn the coup d’état and call for a return to the constitutional order and for the release of those imprisoned as political prisoners following the coup, as well as for full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. My delegation also voted for the resolution because of the support it provides for international and regional efforts in Guinea-Bissau. In that regard, we especially support the sustained efforts and commitments of the Economic Community of West African States and other stakeholders involved in resolving the crisis. We reiterate the need for coordination in those mediation efforts. In voting for the resolution, Morocco reiterates its full readiness to support the efforts that have been launched to ensure a return to stability. We will continue to support such efforts, which we hope will make it possible to reach a consensual and peaceful political solution, in the interests of the people of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, I would like to acknowledge and commend the political wisdom and sense of compromise demonstrated by the delegations directly concerned in order to arrive at a consensus text. That can only strengthen the efforts of the international community in helping to usher in a Guinea-Bissau that is stable and at peace.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.