S/PV.7177 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. José Ramos-Horta, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau, to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Mr. Ramos- Horta, who is joining today’s meeting via video- teleconference from Bissau. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite His Excellency Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil, in his capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2014/332, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau. I also wish draw the attention of Council members to document S/2014/333, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau. I now give the floor to Mr. Ramos-Horta. Mr. Ramos-Horta: I should like to inform the Security Council about who is in the room here with me, at a very symbolic moment. To my left is Mr. Gana Fofang, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, and to my right is the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guinea- Bissau. I have also invited representatives of our international partners, including the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and the European Union (EU), as well as Ambassadors resident in Guinea-Bissau and my colleagues who make up the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office. It is once again my honour to introduce the Secretary-General’s reports on the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau (S/2014/332) and on the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) (S/2014/333). Since the two reports were issued, the political and security environment in Guinea-Bissau has remained largely peaceful and calm. Nevertheless, following the conduct of the first round of the legislative and presidential elections on 13 April, national and international partners enhanced their collective efforts to create an atmosphere free from intimidation, coercion and fear, so as to contribute to the restoration of constitutional order. It was in that context that I held consultations with the Transitional President, Mr. Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo, which resulted in his hosting of a meeting on 30 April with the candidates in the run-off election  — Mr. José Mário Vaz from the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and Nuno Gores Nabiam, an independent. Other senior leaders of the PAIGC and the Social Renewal Party, which is backing Mr. Nabiam, as well as all international partners, also attended the meeting. The aim of the meeting was to provide a formal platform for dialogue. Both presidential candidates and other leaders pledged to continue to work towards a peaceful electoral campaign and to accept the outcome of the election. The joint command structure trained and established with the support of UNIOGBIS to help ensure lawful, coordinated security of the electoral process nationwide delivered on its tasks as planned, with the national police assuming the leading role and the military remaining in reserve. The ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau rendered a most useful service to the activities of the joint command. I also visited all the regions of Guinea- Bissau, which are being assisted by the four United Nations field offices. I went to the most remote areas and met with local authorities and the population on matters related to stability, development and the return to constitutional order through elections. All those efforts contributed to an environment enabling all steps of the electoral process, including the recent conduct of a violence-free campaign by Mr. Nabiam and Mr. Vaz, supported by their political allies. Yesterday, Bissau-Guineans went in large numbers to cast their ballots to elect the President. This morning I met the heads of all international election observation missions, who unanimously assessed that the process took place in an orderly and peaceful manner — hence providing an opportunity for all Bissau-Guineans to freely make their choices. They all expressed their hope and confidence that the results expected soon would be accepted by all. In that regard, allow me to congratulate the transitional authorities, in particular Transitional President Serifo Nhamadjo and Transitional Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros, as well as the political parties, candidates, police, military, civil society organizations and the people of Guinea-Bissau as a whole, on that remarkable achievement. My sincere appreciation goes to all international partners, multilateral and bilateral, that contributed politically, financially and technically to the holding of the polls, including the historic success of the electoral registration. The ECOWAS leaders, in particular, deserve special gratitude and commendation for their steady engagement with all parties, including the military leadership. The holding of legislative and presidential elections constituted the most critical step towards the restoration of constitutional order, as the Council demanded. Within a few days, the new National People’s Assembly should be inaugurated, followed by the installation of the newly elected President. The new Government should be fully sworn in by the middle of June. I have encouraged the political leadership to ensure that it is inclusive and based on merit to best deliver on the priorities of the country. I have impressed upon all to ensure that in the post-election phase, the winners and losers of the election contest enter into a new partnership aimed at rebuilding the State and relaunching the socioeconomic development of Guinea-Bissau, within an environment of enduring stability. Political factionalism, ethnic-based politics, mutual distrust and the lack of a culture of dialogue remain major challenges that should be tackled for the future stability of the country. The acrimonious civil-military relations, including civilian oversight issues, are yet to be addressed. Cases of gross human rights violations and impunity still await redress. The socioeconomic problems that continue to keep the country in poverty have been magnified over the past two years. Deforestation and depletion of the fisheries resources are endangering the future viability of the country. It is clear that the newly elected State institutions are inheriting a bleak political, social, economic and security situation. The Government will have to mobilize all Bissau-Guineans to engage in a serious, inclusive and constructive dialogue in order to define a new direction for the country. A consensual national programme for the country’s political stabilization and economic development will be the first step, alongside fast-tracking critical security sector reform (SSR), in line with resolution 2103 (2013). While the current political discourse of the main leaders reiterating their commitment to a focus on dialogue and rebuilding the State provides a reason for guarded optimism, the challenges are great and the risks are many. UNIOGBIS has been supporting the National Commission for Planning and Strategic Coordination, which has been consulting with and preparing programme documents to be presented to the incoming Government. A series of workshops were also held to identify proposals for updating the national strategy document on SSR and the rule of law, which awaits review and approval by the new Government. I have also been promoting the notion that, in order to improve transparency and thereby confidence between Guinea- Bissau and its partners, the resources mobilized for stabilizing the country should be co-managed through a programme to improve governance efficacy. At the core of the idea is the deployment of international experts to key revenue-generating institutions or the strategic management of the key Government institutions with the assistance of international experts, if requested by the Government. From my consultations with many international partners, such a programme is crucial for ensuring the success of the envisaged donor pledging conference. Bissau-Guinean partners also seem enthusiastic about the idea. In that regard, I would like to reiterate the call of the Secretary-General for the Council to lend support to the donor pledging conference, which would contribute to securing the necessary funds for the implementation of such an initiative. The new authorities in Guinea-Bissau need to be urgently assisted so as to move towards a successful conference. Meanwhile, consideration may be given to an immediate and specific resource mobilization effort in support of critical security and defence reforms, as agreed by national partners. As for the role of the international community, the message is clear. The end of the transition is the beginning of a new phase that will require our continued engagement and full commitment to assisting the people of Guinea-Bissau in addressing the country’s deep-seated political, social and economic problems. In the immediate post-election period, the newly elected Government will need emergency budgetary support to allow it to cover, inter alia, outstanding salaries so that it can begin the necessary work of rebuilding the State in an atmosphere of calm and stability. Thereafter, the international community’s long-term commitment to providing financial and technical support in order to ensure the rebuilding of the State and the relaunching of the economy will be critical. In that regard, I appeal to the Council to use its influence to contribute to the mobilization of resources for Guinea-Bissau’s comprehensive road map for rebuilding the State, in line with resolution 2048 (2012). With regard to the United Nations integrated presence in Guinea-Bissau, UNIOGBIS should, through the facilitation of a multilayered and multisectoral national dialogue, including on defence- and security-related issues, continue to support national peacebuilding and State reconstruction efforts, with a focus on stability and sustainable development in Guinea-Bissau. While the Mission should also continue to provide strategic and policy advice and contribute to human rights monitoring, promotion and protection, as well as gender-related matters, the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes should be supported in order to enhance their technical assistance to national stakeholders on issues relating to public administration reform, the provision of social services and the revitalization of the economy. For the latter, I call upon the international financial institutions to make every effort to enhance support for the socioeconomic revitalization of Guinea-Bissau. I believe that, if we fail to immediately provide the required support to the new Government, the restored constitutional order runs the risk of collapsing very soon. Such a collapse of law and order in Guinea- Bissau, besides the loss of our efforts and investment thus far, could bring about more disastrous results than ever before seen in the country. Last but not least, I wish to register my sincere appreciation and commendation for the role played by the United Nations country team in Guinea- Bissau, in particular, the United Nations Development Programme, whose resource mobilization and coordination role during this critical period, as well as its professionalism and dedication, contributed to the holding of the elections. I have been a privileged witness to the exemplary performance, selfless professionalism and dedication of my colleagues within the United Nations country team and UNIOGBIS, who have been working in an integrated or coordinated manner. The trust, freedom and guidance that I and my colleagues have received from the Secretariat were invaluable. I am deeply grateful to the Secretary-General and the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs. To end my intervention, I would like to reiterate my deepest appreciation to our partners, notably the African Union, the CPLP, ECOWAS and the European Union, for their joint efforts in supporting the implementation of the critical tasks mandated by the Security Council and in helping Guinea-Bissau to return to constitutional order. The continued united effort of the international community will be essential to ensure the stability and development of Guinea-Bissau.

I thank Mr. Ramos-Horta for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Patriota.

I thank you, Mr. President, for inviting me to address the Security Council in my capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). Allow me to congratulate the people of Guinea-Bissau on their peaceful and active participation in the second round of presidential elections, which was a fundamental step in the country’s history. I thank once again all of Guinea- Bissau’s partners who contributed resources, technical support and observers. Also, I would convey a very special word of appreciation for the invaluable work of Special Representative of the Secretary-General José Ramos-Horta, whose personal qualities and dedication have been an asset for the United Nations and a decisive contribution to the process. As we await the proclamation of the results, let me outline some important discussions that have taken place in the Guinea-Bissau configuration during the past few months, with a view to contributing to future steps. First, the configuration has been actively following the situation throughout the transitional period. By means of two press statements, it has called on all parties to respect the electoral outcome as the expression of the democratic will of the people of Guinea-Bissau. It has served as a forum to help improve the coordination among key regional and international partners — one aspect that is likely to become even more important as we prepare to resume full international cooperation with the country. On the basis of my January visit to Bissau along with Assistant Secretary-General Judy Cheng- Hopkins, the configuration has also initiated early planning for the post-electoral engagement. In that regard, I had proposed to the configuration and to the Council that we consider three achievable medium- term peacebuilding objectives as our guidance in that process: the completion of a full democratic cycle in Guinea-Bissau, significant strides in food security and basic social indicators, and enhanced coordination and understanding to advance on the modernization of the security and defence sector. I also believe that the configuration was able to strengthen its partnership with the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and its coordination with Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ramos-Horta. The synergy with the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is also an important dimension, which is translated through the PBF’s funding of projects ranging from support to the electoral process and the establishment of the National Commission for Planning and Strategic Coordination, to the promotion of women and youth employment. Secondly, it is important to bear in mind that the pursuit of our first medium-term strategic objective, the completion of a full democratic cycle, has just begun. In all democratic systems, the formation of a Government is a complex process, and it is all the more so for a country such as Guinea-Bissau, emerging from institutional rupture and facing daunting social and economic challenges. We welcome the initial gestures of Prime Minister-designate Domingos Simões Pereira towards inclusion and dialogue. As we have highlighted time and again, it is essential that international assistance be present from day one. Pressing issues such as the payment of salaries, especially for civil servants in the education and health sectors, and food security are also key elements for the consolidation of the democratic transition. Decisive and swift support is needed. I will remain in contact with Special Representative Ramos-Horta and other partners, such as the World Bank, in order to ensure that the PBC stands ready to help. I believe that we find ourselves today better positioned, from a technical point of view, to reengage with Guinea-Bissau. The proposal of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for a government efficacy amelioration programme that is aligned with the priorities identified by the new Government in order to ensure national ownership and based on broad consultations with all international partners can be a key element to enhance capacity and transparency. We look forward to working with the elected authorities on the review of the peacebuilding strategic framework and the possible cooperation with the PBF on a set of national peacebuilding priorities. We can already count on improved coordination among key partners and on encouraging and skilled leadership in Bissau. A successful transition is likely to mobilize both traditional and new partners, and that can well present a unique opportunity. That leads me to my next consideration. Beyond the emergency budgetary support to keep a new Government running, we have welcomed the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s proposal that a donors’ conference be held as early as possible, so that the willingness to re-engage on the part of the international community can materialize in much- needed concrete pledges and disbursements. At the same time, we understand that conditions need to be put in place for that support to be effective. As noted by Assistant Secretary-General Judy Cheng-Hopkins during our configuration’s most recent informal meeting, a donor’s conference should not be seen as business as usual. We must communicate and articulate in an effective way the improved technical basis for engagement, the concrete impact that can be achieved with modest amounts in Guinea-Bissau, the great potential of the country in agriculture, services and tourism, and, above all the people’s desire to move past the cycle of poverty and instability. Fourthly, with regard to the modernization of the security and defence sector, I believe that we will now be better positioned to devise a comprehensive and more effective strategy in support of legitimate authorities. The Economic Community of West African States has been playing an important leading role in that regard, and we should stand ready to continue to support its efforts — and the engagement of other partners — with resources and expertise. The PBC stands available to play a coordinating role and offer strategic advice by providing a platform that can bring together the main partners around common objectives. That engagement can be important to help bring about the necessary political space for such complex processes to advance. As we have noted in the past, security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau cannot be viewed in isolation, and it should not concentrate solely on the top-level structures. It is linked to reforms in other key sectors: economic revitalization, reconciliation and political dialogue, and the creation of opportunities and political alternatives with a view to consolidating democratic stability. I stress once again that it is key to ensure that no social group be perceived as being left behind and that all be granted their due recognition. Our expectations should also be attuned to such realities so as to help us devise the most effective strategies to advance on realistic objectives. In that connection, we look forward to the upcoming national conference on the modernization and restructuring of the security sector, which is scheduled to take place next month, and welcome the efforts of UNIOGBIS to promote dialogue and outreach on that issue. That brings me to a final consideration, on the upcoming renewal of the UNIOGBIS mandate by the Council. As noted by Special Representative Ramos- Horta in our most recent configuration meeting, the linkage between the PBC, including as a political body, and UNIOGBIS should remain a key building block of the Office’s mandate. Resolution 2103 (2013) refers to the PBC’s readiness to reengage with Guinea-Bissau once conditions allow and to the need to further realign the United Nations system’s State-building and peacebuilding activities and the contribution of the Peacebuilding Fund to peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau. It is my view that we have made some important strides in that direction already. Building on such strides, the Council could consider strengthening the elements of the UNIOGBIS mandate that refer to its partnership with the PBC and the potential for that partnership to help bring about enhanced coordination, additional strategic advice on a key set of core, achievable and nationally led peacebuilding priorities and greater synergy with the PBF and other institutional partners.

I thank Ambassador Patriota for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Guinea- Bissau.

I now give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on the Republic of Korea’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I would also like to thank you for inviting my delegation to participate in this important meeting on behalf of the 18 member States of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP). We welcome the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (S/2014/333), and we commend the positive and very encouraging developments registered so far. We also welcome the statement of His Excellency Ambassador Antonio Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil and Chair of the Guinea-Bissau country-specificd configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. In that regard, we greatly appreciate the immeasurable support of the United Nations and other international actors in the work of restoring the constitutional order in Guinea- Bissau disrupted by the coup d’état of 12 April 2012. We would also like to commend the tireless efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. José Ramos-Horta, who has encouraged the people of Guinea-Bissau and mobilized international efforts to find a sustainable solution to this crisis. The Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries has always supported the efforts on the ground aimed at stabilizing Guinea-Bissau, and has assisted in the electoral process by deploying its own electoral observers, led by Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique. We therefore commend the Guinean people for their holding of free, credible and transparent elections on 13 April. By maintaining an orderly and peaceful atmosphere during the elections, the people of Guinea-Bissau have proved to the world that they wish to rebuild their country in a healthy, sustainable environment. We share the view of the international community that all the political actors, and Guinea- Bissau society as a whole, should respect the results of the parliamentary and presidential elections as a key step in establishing legitimate authority and restoring constitutional order. We encourage them to pursue an inclusive national dialogue aimed at achieving long- term political, economic and social stability. The political situation in Guinea-Bissau is nonetheless still a source of concern. Serious incidents and continuing impunity for those who perpetrate them demonstrate that Guinea-Bissau’s rule-of-law institutions must be strengthened and modernized. Furthermore, issues such as food shortages, increasing strikes about unpaid wages in various economic and social sectors, and the irregular functioning of a significant number of schools demonstrate the seriousness of the situation. We call on the international community to support the future legitimate and democratic authorities of Guinea-Bissau in dealing with the multiple challenges ahead, including that of security sector reform. The CPLP also supports the speedy holding of a donors’ conference in order to mobilize resouces immediately to deal with the urgent need for emergency assistance and the longer-term priorities for reconstructing various socioeconomic sectors, which will pave the way for the country’s sustainable development. In conclusion, we reaffirm the determination of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries to work closely with the future legitimate authorities of Guinea-Bissau, together with the United Nations and the wider international community, in order to stabilize the country effectively.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.