UN Security Council expresses concern

UN Security Council members expressed concern on Tuesday over political, economic and social instability in Guinea-Bissau, the UN Newservice reported the Council’s President for July, Ambassador Wang Yingfan of China, as telling the media in New York. “Members of the Council expressed concern over tensions at border areas with Senegal, and the government’s inability - due to a lack of resources - to go forward with the restructuring of the armed forces and with the demobilization and reintegration programme,” Wang said. He was speaking after a closed meeting at which the Council was briefed by a senior official of the UN Department of Political Affairs. The Council also considered UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s latest report on the country and the activities of the UN Peace-Building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS). Council members expressed concern about “the serious misappropriation of funds of the national treasury and welcomed efforts by President Yala and the National Assembly to shed light” on this. They also reaffirmed their support for efforts by the government and people to promote national reconciliation, strengthen democratic institutions, “uphold the rule of law in the face of mounting challenges both inside and outside the country” and improve relations with Guinea-Bissau’s neighbours. They urged the international community to contribute generously to the promotion of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau. Members of the Council commended the role played by UNOGBIS in facilitating peace-building initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau as well as promoting the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the country. They also reiterated their support to the Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau, Samuel Nana-Sinkam, UN News said.