Security Council - Situation in Timor-Leste

Statement by Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations
Chair of the Guinea-Bissau Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission

Statement on the PBC engagement in Guinea-Bissau

Security Council, 5 November 2009

Mr. President,

I wish to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of the Council during the month of November. I also thank you for the opportunity to participate in this meeting in my capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau Configuration of the PBC. I also thank the Representative of the Secretary General in Bissau, Joseph Mutaboba, for his comprehensive and insightful remarks on the situation in the field.

Since I last briefed the Council, on June 23, a number of developments affected peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau. Following the tragic assassinations of March and June, the country seems to have restored constitutional normality. The two rounds of presidential elections occurred in a peaceful manner and the PAIGC candidate, Malam Bacai Sanhá, was elected President.

From September 7th to 12th, I visited Bissau in order to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Sanhá and meet with the Prime Minister, members of the government, civil society and bilateral and multilateral partners. From the many conversations I had, I could sense an atmosphere of cautious optimism. Among the reasons for positive expectations, I would mention four developments:

1) The fact that the President and the Prime Minister are both from the PAIGC contributes, in principle, to strengthen political stability. The decision by the National Assembly to hold a national reconciliation dialogue focusing on the root causes of conflict and the future of the country augurs well for the peacebuilding process.

2) The need to pursue security sector reform remains a top priority. The launching of a pension fund for members of military that will be demobilized is seen as a major step in this direction.

3) Government authorities expressed their willingness to put an end to the culture of impunity. They remain interested in receiving international technical support to the work of a commission of inquiry into this year’s political assassinations.

4) There has been a notable improvement in the management of public finances. The government had been able to normalize payrolls mostly through the mobilization of domestic resources. The growth in public revenue and the record performance of cashew exports illustrate the economic potential the country needs to tap into.

However, many challenges remain.

In the context of SSR, the government is expected to take decisions that will enable the process to move forward, in particular with regard to the establishment of the pension fund. ECOWAS has offered to organize a meeting on SSR in Abuja as a follow-up to the meeting held in Praia last April, to be followed by a donors’ roundtable. All actors should join in supporting Guinea-Bissau, as a successful SSR is key to the peacebuilding process in the country.
Guinea-Bissau continues to need assistance to build capacity which may enable State institutions to function properly and the rule of law to take hold. Efforts to help Guinea-Bissau build a functioning State capable of addressing basic social needs, ensure security and promote human rights continue to be essential.

There are still important bottlenecks hampering economic recovery. Despite recent increase in total power generation, the production and distribution of energy is still a matter of great concern. Without adequate infrastructure, the prospects for sustained economic growth and employment generation will remain unfulfilled.

The attention given to the fight against drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau has yielded some positive results, as reported by the UNODC. This should be seen as an encouragement for further action and enhanced support to the country, with a view to achieving even more effective results.

Mr. President,

During my trip to Bissau, I encouraged the National Steering Committee to review the strategic framework approved last year. Such review is aimed at assessing the progress achieved so far and defining, within each priority area, those aspects that will need the particular attention of the international community in the short term. I was glad to learn that this process has already started.

Apart from its intrinsic value, this prioritization exercise will be instrumental to inform the allocation of a second tranche of PBF resources to Guinea-Bissau.

In light of the importance attached to a regional approach to peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau, I will be traveling with the Chair of the PBC to Addis Ababa next week to establish contact with African Union officials on matters of relevance to the countries on the agenda of the Commission. I will also travel to Abuja in order to meet with ECOWAS officials on issues pertaining to Guinea-Bissau. I believe these trips will provide a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation with both organizations and coordinate actions in support of Guinea-Bissau.

Last, but not least, I would like to reiterate the importance of a renewed and strengthened presence of the UN on the ground. The transformation of UNOGBIS into an integrated Mission, endowed with the necessary resources and staff to fulfill its mandate, is vitally important to the success of peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau. We hope that the budget proposal for the UNIOGBIS will be favourably considered in the V Committee, and that the new office can start operating at full capacity as soon as possible.

I thank you very much.