PRESS STATEMENT ON GUINEA-BISSAU BY
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NEW YORK, 4 August (UN Headquarters) -- Following is the press statement on Guinea-Bissau delivered today by Security Council President Mikhail Wehbe (Syria):
Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from David Stephen, Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau, during informal consultations on 4 August. Mr. Stephen updated Security Council members on the developments in Guinea-Bissau since the joint Security Council/Economic and Social Council mission to the country in late June.
Members of the Security Council welcomed the progress made since the joint visit of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), especially the announcement by the President of the date of 12 October 2003 for the parliamentary elections, which constitute an important factor for the stability of the country.
Members of the Security Council commended President Koumba Yalá and encouraged him and his Government to continue working towards the holding of the legislative elections in a transparent, fair and credible manner.
Members of the Security Council commended the international community for having pledged the necessary resources for the organization of the forthcoming legislative elections.
Members of the Security Council noted that the National Electoral Commission (NEC) had invited international organizations to send observers to the elections and appealed to those organizations to respond positively to the NEC requests.
Members of the Security Council welcomed the nomination by the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) of the Special Representatives for Guinea-Bissau.
Members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the delay of the voters’ registration and appealed to the Government of Guinea-Bissau to speed up this process.
Members of the Security Council further expressed their concern at the serious economic situation in the country and appealed to the international community to continue to provide assistance for the sustainable development of Guinea-Bissau.
The Council encouraged the authorities of Guinea-Bissau, to redouble their efforts to restore good governance.
Members of the Council commended the ECOSOC Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, the Group of Friends of Guinea-Bissau and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa for their role in the follow-up provided to the situation in Guinea-Bissau.
Members of the Security Council expressed their strong support to the Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau and to the United Nations Peace-Building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau.
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