YouSaid · the spoken record

Embale

lines on the record: 23
first: 2011-11-03
most recent: 2011-11-03
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: un-security-council

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“I refer to the Economic Community of West African States, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the African Union, the European Union, and particularly to countries such as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Portugal, Nigeria and Senegal for all they have done to ensure that the voice of Guinea-Bissau is heard around the world. We count on the wholehearted support of the Security Council and of the entire international community, from whom we ask for engagement with Guinea-Bissau, as has already occurred with some of our partners, so that we can jointly implement the programmes that will boost the country's economic and social development and transform it into a prosperous and exemplary nation. Those are the matters I wish to highlight at this juncture.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“As we have reiterated several times in international forums, implementation of those strategies depends on the effective support of the international community, particularly in the social sectors. To follow up those ideas, we have already started preparations to organize a donor round table next year with a view to mobilizing funds to implement the national plan to combat poverty. The high-level meeting on defence and security sector reform scheduled for this year is part of the Government's strategy to raise awareness and mobilize resources and partnerships. We hereby renew our appreciation for everything that has been done by those who have supported us in this massive effort to raise awareness and begin implementation of the reforms.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“The other elements of the national poverty reduction strategy aim at providing responses to the characteristic challenges of the country in the area of development, where priorities and needs in the Guinean context require a more inclusive approach in which social and human needs cannot be relegated to the background. The country still has a low level of human development and faces complex and wide- ranging challenges in terms of poverty. Thus strategies, policies, programmes and actions that could significantly reduce poverty in its multiple dimensions, generate increased income and employment opportunities, and improve access to basic public services that meet basic quality standards have been envisioned over a five-year period.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“For us, that necessarily implies accelerating and stabilizing the defence and security sector reform process. Respect for democratic principles, particularly through holding free, transparent and regular elections and leaving behind the former practice of seizing power through force, completes the picture outlined above, incorporating the democratic components within the regular functioning of institutions. That will be the main guarantee of stability for our country, which will allow it to turn a corner and break the cycle of political instability that has marked it in recent years.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“That is why, in the recently revised and reformulated country strategy paper, defence, security and justice sector reforms were included in the first section under the title "Strengthening the rule of law and republican institutions". This axis refers to the structures and authority of the State, as well as to its ability to implement new practices of political and administrative governance in order to establish the rule of law and lasting security for the population and its property. Among the actions to be taken in this area, I note measures to improve the human rights situation and mechanisms to prevent and manage crises. The separation of powers, the primacy of the law and the establishment of an independent and technically and culturally able judiciary are the cornerstones of the rule of law that we wish for our country.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“The will and determination of the Government to implement these strategies is a necessary but insufficient condition for their success. The lack of financial means and the imposition of conditionalities for their disbursement have been the main causes of delays in the process. The interconnection in Guinea-Bissau among the political, security, justice, economic and social development dimensions is unequivocal and generally accepted by donors and local actors, as well as by national civil society institutions, all of which recognize that only in a climate of peace and political stability can the country achieve sustainable development and economic and social progress.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“In addition, the support provided by the representative of the Attorney-General of the United States should also be praised and enhanced so that we can take advantage of their enormous experience in this field. With the assistance of UNODC and France, we are working on a plan to combat money-laundering that will also rely on the support of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa and the National Unit for the Processing of Financial Information, which has already been created in our country. There is also an ongoing programme to strengthen the channels of communication among the different agencies of the system and to enhance the sharing of information collected from different sources. INTERPOL, which now has a local office, will play a central role in this process.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“The promotion of professional training for judicial officers, the access of all citizens to justice and the dissemination of a new paradigm between citizens and the police are critical factors for the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law. This framework also includes measures taken to combat transnational organized crime, especially drug trafficking, terrorism and money-laundering, at the subregional level, through the West Africa Coast Initiative, and at the national level. The strategy and the action plan to combat drugs were warmly welcomed by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who has just completed a working visit to Guinea-Bissau.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“So far, clear results have been obtained in the rehabilitation of prisons and penal system reform, in strengthening criminal justice legislation and national capacities, and in implementing mechanisms to facilitate access to information and impartial justice. These results demonstrate the appropriateness of the choices made to strengthen the judiciary and improve its operations in accordance with full respect for democratic principles, in particular the principle of separation of powers. The creation of the first model police station, the Offices of Information and Judiciary Support and the creation of the Judiciary Training Centre fall within this new dynamic.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“The Government welcomes the adoption of the employment programme within the framework of the Peacebuilding Fund, which includes employment solutions for demobilized military personnel as well as other projects of a similar nature already under way with the support of the European Union. The issue of impunity continues to be highlighted as one of the causes of Guinea-Bissau's fragility and as a threat to social peace. The examples that are often cited are the excessive delay in the investigation of crimes, the lack of State authority, which would indicate leadership deficits, and lack of technical and financial capacities to ensure the rule of law. The Government views these shortcomings as challenges and is therefore committed to moving forward with its programme of justice sector reform.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“We now call for greater engagement by all in these efforts, failing which we risk undermining the significant efforts made to date and sowing doubt among the beneficiaries of the process with regard to the capacity and interest of some in successfully concluding this process. As far as the Government is concerned, the process will begin so long as conditions are in place to cover the costs related to the payment of pensions for the first two years of the fund's operation. The launch of the fund will allow us to face many of the challenges that we have been confronted with, such as the gradual replenishment of the military command and improved training for new recruits. Together with other actions, including demobilization and reintegration into active life, security sector reform will be further energized.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Indeed, it was in this conviction - which we understand is shared by our partners - that we adopted, without hesitation and often at high social and political cost, the comprehensive legislative package of reforms with a view to implementing measures to monitor the payment of wages in the public sector, including the defence and security forces, and to raise awareness of and improve communication on the goals of the reform and other elements deemed necessary to ensure its operability. In short, we have created the conditions, once considered a major challenge, for the establishment of the special pension fund and the launch of the demobilization process.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“It is therefore only reasonable to ask for results after creating the conditions necessary for obtaining them. In order for the work done so far not to be seen as a handful of salt thrown into the sea, to use a popular expression, and in order for our commitments not to be reduced to mere rhetoric, we must proceed to the high-level meeting scheduled to take place later this month under the auspices of the United Nations. The meeting, which is part of a strategy to deepen the political dialogue with the Government, should continue to receive special attention.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“As the Council is aware, the Government has maintained a constructive political dialogue with the European Union in a follow-up committee that meets regularly to assess the implementation of the road map that emerged from the consultations. To complete the picture of the commitments already announced for the financing of the pension fund, it is worth mentioning the contributions of the Government of Angola in the framework of our bilateral cooperation and of the Peacebuilding Fund. The Government welcomes these efforts and calls for their implementation as soon as possible. The efforts of the Government that I have just described should be appreciated and valued by the donor community, which must show greater flexibility. One can only be healed after treatment and not the other way around.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“The Government estimates that a rapid response from that institution will allow for the implementation of the decision of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS which, in March 2011, approved the special financial package to support the road map in the amount of $63 million and will have the additional merit of highlighting the role of ECOWAS in the consolidation of the process of regional integration and, in particular, in the strengthening of peace and security in Guinea-Bissau. The conclusion of consultations with the European Union until article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement and the resulting commitments undertaken by the Government created the conditions for the resumption of EU support for security sector reform.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“In that regard, the framework agreement signed between the Government and the bank in question provides for the signature of additional protocols to ensure that the specific financial procedures of each donor are respected. At this stage in the process, the financial contribution of ECOWAS is contingent on the 11-57874 signature of a memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Government to implement defence and security sector reforms. As is well known, the framework of support for and follow-up to the road map is established in the memorandum, as is a set of priority actions, such as the operationalization of the pension fund. A draft memorandum of understanding is already available, and its signature will be made possible with the final decision of ECOWAS.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“More recently, it deposited 40 per cent of its annual contribution into the account opened in the bank selected, and made a commitment to deposit an additional $300,000 by the end of the current budget year, which will complete the target amount set for this year. Once we receive the contributions announced by some donors, namely, the United Nations through the Peacebuilding Fund, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and Angola, the Government is ready to offer the additional guarantees necessary to safeguard the exclusive use of the fund's resources for the purposes for which it was created.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Despite the consensus reached on the essential role of the pension fund as a key pillar of security and defence sector reform, its start-up of operations is significantly behind schedule, owing mainly to delays in the financial contributions that will constitute the fund. Guinea-Bissau has shown its firm commitment to promptly beginning the process by adopting most of the legal instruments that frame the reforms, in accordance with the expert studies carried out in the framework of our cooperation with the European Union. As evidence of that commitment and along the lines previously agreed and accepted by all, the Government organized the public bidding process to select the banking institution to be entrusted with management of the fund.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Those successes were based on careful and efficient economic governance, building on bold reforms and on the gradual improvement of living conditions, thanks to the revitalization of some industries and improvements in basic infrastructure and the delivery of social services. In the framework of implementing security and defence sector reform, it is worth highlighting the Government's efforts to set up a special pension fund. The special pension fund is a step in the process of restructuring the defence and security forces and will ensure that all members who retire from active duty for reasons of age, seniority or disability receive a fair pension.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Today, I can report that our people enjoy, with some sense of euphoria, the gains that governmental stability has brought to the country. That progress has enabled the country to move from a dramatic budgetary situation to a more stable position, thanks to greater control over public spending, increased tax revenues and the substantial reduction of public debt. Despite the massive uncertainties currently prevailing in the international context, rising exports have benefited the national economy and have compensated for shrinking international aid flows. In that regard, the country's GDP growth has surpassed its historical trend of 1.8 per cent over the past 10 years and is forecasted to reach 5.3 per cent this year, compared with 3.5 per cent in 2010, in a context of moderate price stability.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Allow me to express what an honour and privilege it is for me to participate in this meeting of the Security Council to outline the developments in Guinea-Bissau since the Council's most recent meeting on the topic (see S/PV.6569). Over the past three years, my country has shown perseverance and determination in implementing its governmental agenda. The acceleration of structural reforms in areas critical for development has helped to normalize the social and political spheres and restore public trust. The long periods of political instability that dragged the country into a vicious circle of serious imbalances and exacted a massive toll by delaying the normal course of development, have now given way to a more favourable political context, characterized by economic recovery and the renewed confidence of internal and external partners.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“With regard to Guinea-Bissau, the Council's actions have been steady and careful, and have revealed its proper understanding of the challenges we face. That has been the basis for its effective action, 6 which has created the environment of confidence and optimism that we are currently experiencing in our country, supported by the assistance that we have been receiving from the United Nations. We therefore welcome United Nations efforts to promote stability and peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau, and for that reason we pay tribute to the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea- Bissau (UNIOGBIS), through its Head and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, who, with integrity and great sense of purpose, has contributed to revitalizing and strengthening national reconciliation and dialogue.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source
“Ms. Embale (Guinea-Bissau) (spoke in Portuguese; English text provided by delegation): The Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, His Excellency Mr. Carlos Gomes Junior, asked me to send his warmest greetings to the Security Council and to convey to it the importance that we attach to this meeting of the Council, which once again confirms its readiness to support the Government's efforts to stabilize the country. Whenever we have an opportunity such as this, we wish to highlight our recognition of how the Security Council has played its strategic role of maintaining international peace and security in a world where threats and urgent and complex issues require appropriate responses.”
2011-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6648 (2011) · source