VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #2283 0922348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 022330Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 5521
INFO RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 2339

UNCLAS STATE 032283 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SNAR PU XA XY
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU:  UNSC CONSULTATIONS APRIL 2 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  USUN may draw from the 
talking points in para 2 during the UN Security Council 
consultations on Guinea-Bissau April 8. 
 
¶2. Begin Statement: 
 
-- First, the United States welcomes the successful 
transition in Guinea-Bissau to Parliament Speaker Raimundo 
Pereira, the constitutional successor to the late President 
Joao Nino Vieira.  We congratulate Guinea-Bissau for adhering 
to its constitution under extraordinary circumstances. 
 
-- The United States supports the interim president and 
encourages the government of Guinea-Bissau to continue to 
work within its democratic institutions to pave a peaceful 
path forward. 
 
-- We urge the Government of Guinea-Bissau, military and all 
political parties to respect the rule of law and ensure the 
safety of all Bissau-Guineans.  The two assassinations 
clearly identify the urgent need to reform the justice, 
defense and security sectors of Guinea-Bissau. 
 
-- The United States notes that Guinea-Bissau has set June 28 
for presidential election, 120 days vice the 60 days required 
in the constitution. We understand that this had the support 
of all the parties, and that Guinea-Bissau would have been 
hard pressed to hold good elections in 60 days. 
 
-- While the elections are significant in moving the country 
forward peacefully, we recognize the importance of Security 
Sector Reform (SSR) in Guinea-Bissau.  The U.S. encourages 
the implementation of the SSR Program that will ensure 
effective security and justice reforms. 
 
-- As reported in the Secretary General reports, drug 
trafficking activities in Guinea-Bissau are at risk of 
escalation.  We remain concerned about the possible link 
between high ranking national officials and these activities. 
 We are encouraged though by the promise of the new 
government to vigorously combat drug trafficking and 
transnational organized crimes.  Allowing these activities to 
persist will only deepen the threat to peace and security in 
Guinea-Bissau and in the sub-region. 
 
-- The United States was heartened to learn the cholera 
epidemic was declared over.  It will be critical to develop a 
strong strategic plan to prevent and control future 
epidemics.  We encourage the establishment of an 
inter-ministerial emergency preparedness and response 
mechanism to this regard. 
 
-- We join with the Secretary General in calling for 
political actors to put aside personal ambition to work 
collaboratively toward improving conditions for all those in 
Guinea-Bissau.  With the tragic events of March, it is time 
for the country to move forward and create a path to 
stability and opportunity. 
 
 
Questions: 
 
n     What were the critical findings of the various reviews 
conducted on SSR?  Have the terms of reference for the 
international Security Sector Advisory Team been commissioned 
into action? How does the ECOWAS roadmap differ? 
n     How much progress has been made in organizing 
elections?  What is the donor community doing to assist at 
this point? 
CLINTON