Statement delivered by Mr. Vice Skracic, Minister Counsellor of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, on the UN Security Council debate on Guinea-Bissau.
As this is the first time my delegation is taking the floor this month let me congratulate you on assuming the presidency for the month of October. We also extend our appreciation to Ambassador Kafando and his delegation for the excellent work conducted in the previous month.
We would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Mr. Lynn Pascoe for his detailed briefing as well as Ambassadors Maria Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil, Chair of the Guinea Bissau configuration of the Pecebuilding Commission for her report. Croatia is encouraged by the hard work Guinea-Bissau and its international partners have carried out so far in their efforts to reconstruct the country and to re-establish a lasting peace and we hope that this process will continue to move in the right direction.
It is for this reason that we are concerned with the deepening political crisis and the further development of military tensions that has been growing in the last few months in Guinea Bissau, especially having in mind the fast approaching elections. In that context, Croatia welcomes the stabilization of the situation following the appointment of the new “caretaker” Government. We welcome the determination expressed by the new Government to continue the necessary reforms, especially in the area of security and the public sector, and drug trafficking.
Croatia welcomes the steady preparations for the elections and we commend the Government on successful voter registration which has recorded 94.6 per cent participation. It is particularly important that the results of the registration are accepted by all main electoral institutions. Moreover, it is encouraging to see a narrowing of the electoral financial gap thanks to generous donations and the Government's efforts. Assurances from the highest positions, including the clearly expressed intention of the new Government that legislative elections will be held as scheduled – on 16 November 2008 –, are also of the highest importance.
The elections should take place in a stabile and secure environment with the open and unhindered participation of professional and credible media as well as other forms of international verification. Croatia welcomes the recent visit of a European electoral observer mission to Guinea Bissau and its recommendation to deploy an estimated 50 European Union electoral observers, as well as a recent visit to the country by the African Union Assessment Mission. Croatia especially commends the role of the UN system in assisting the Government of Guinea-Bissau with the upcoming elections and coordinating role of UNOGBIS regarding international observers who will not operate under an EU umbrella.
We would like to commend the considerable efforts made in cooperation between the Government and international community in promoting security sector reform, as well as concrete actions in that regard. One such action which we welcome is the deployment of a team of 15 European Union civilian and military personnel under the European Security and Defense Policy program with the main aim to promote a better understanding of the four pillar program on justice, security, defense and veterans affairs.
Croatia is extremely concerned by reports on drug trafficking and organized crime spreading throughout Guinea-Bissau. It is obvious that increasing incidence of drug trafficking threatens peace and security in Guinea-Bissau as well as in the sub-region. We strongly support decisive action against drug traffickers and, in that regard, as a step in right direction, we welcome the UNODC concrete efforts to strengthen judicial police involved in counter narcotics activities as well as the convening by ECOWAS of a regional conference on combating drug trafficking and the resulting regional plan of action to effectively deal with the menace posed by drug trafficking to the countries of West Africa. Croatia welcomes the SG recommendation to establish a panel of experts in order to investigate the identity and activities of those involved in drug trafficking and organized crime, which deserves, in our opinion, further consideration.
Croatia welcomes the adoption of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau by the Peacebuilding Commission's Country-Specific Configuration on Guinea-Bissau on 1 October 2008, and the ongoing implementation of four quick impact projects for electoral support, youth employment, the rehabilitation of prisons and military barracks.
On a final note, my Delegation would like to thank the Delegation of Burkina Faso for preparing the draft PRST on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, which we fully support.
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