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Final Communique SIXTH WORKING SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON GUINEA-BISSAU (ICG-GB) NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 FINAL COMMUNIQUE 1. The International Contact Group on Guinea Bissau (ICG-GB) held its 6th Working Session in New York on September 22, 2009. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission and H.E. João Gomes Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal. 2. The meeting was attended by representatives of Angola, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, France, Guinea Bissau, Portugal, Nigeria, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, ECOWAS, UEMOA, the United Nations, the CPLP and the European Union. Opening remarks were made by the following: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission. Other statements were made by the Government of Guinea- Bissau, Cape Verde and the Chairperson of the AU, the Executive Secretary of the CPLP. 3. After detailed exchanges on the reports and statements, the International Contact Group arrived at the following observations and recommendations: Domestic Political Situation 4. The Group commended the Government and people of Guinea Bissau for the orderly and democratic manner in which the presidential elections of June-July 2009 were held. The Group congratulated Malam Bacai Sanhá, who emerged victorious and was sworn in as the President on September 8, 2009. 5. The Group noted that government formed in the aftermath of the November 2008 parliamentary elections remains an essential actor for the strengthening and TH 6 Session of the ICG-GB Page | 1 New York , 22 September 2009 Rev.1 ENG deepening constitutional and democratic governance in Guinea-Bissau and called on all Guinea Bissau stakeholders to work together to create the necessary environment for national reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development in the country. The Group reaffirmed its determination to continue to engage Guinea Bissau in the efforts to build up the democratic institutions and revive the economy which, at this point in time, is in dire need of infrastructural and financial support. 6. The Group welcomed the initiative by the Government of Guinea-Bissau to launch a national dialogue on ‘’Conflict in Guinea Bissau: the Causes, Consequences, Prevention and Resolution’’ beginning on September 24, 2009, as well as the national conference to be held in Bissau on January 4, 2010 with a view to understanding and dealing with the root causes of the country’s problems. The Group expects the process to engender peace, social justice and economic development in the country. 7. The Group expressed deep concern at the persistent climate of impunity in Guinea Bissau and firmly condemned the brutal assassinations which took place at the beginning of March and again in early June in Bissau. To this end, the Group called for the speedy incorporation of the proposed experts from the AU and ECOWAS into the existing National Commission of Enquiry in order to intensify the investigation into the multiple assassinations, and urged the UN and the international community to define the modalities to provide the necessary technical assistance to the Commission of Enquiry without further delay. The investigation should contribute to justice and national reconciliation. The Security Sector 8. The Group appealed to the political actors and the military to stay the course of democratic reform of the security sector and adhere to the Constitution. The Group urged all stakeholders, in particular the government of Guinea Bissau, to move swiftly to the implementation phase of the defence and security sector reform agenda aimed at further strengthening the efforts to put the defence and security sector reforms on a stable and right direction for the benefit of the people of Guinea Bissau. TH 6 Session of the ICG-GB Page | 2 New York , 22 September 2009 Rev.1 ENG 9. The Group stressed the critical importance of national ownership of the security sector reform process and urged the Government, the military and security forces to improve their cooperation and coordination as a fundamental pre- condition for strengthening the country’s capacity to enforce the rule of law and promote stability. 10. The Group underscored the need for the Government to further strengthen its cooperation with both multilateral and bilateral partners in order to ensure the effective implementation of the SSR agenda by continuing to ensure the necessary conditions on the ground for the successful implementation of bilateral and multilateral SSR programmes. In this regard, the Group expressed its strong appreciation for the efforts of the EU SSR ESDP Mission at supporting the SSR in Guinea Bissau and called on all international actors to coordinate their activities in this field. The Fight against Drug Trafficking 11. The Contact Group expressed deep concern at the continuing problem of narcotic drug trafficking in spite of the national and international efforts to combat the trade. Considering the importance of SSR for the pursuing of successful anti-drug trafficking measures, the Group recommended that account be taken of the Lisbon Operational Programme on Drug Trafficking in Guinea-Bissau (2007); the Praia Plan of Action on Drug Trafficking in West Africa (2008) and the Praia Round Table on SSR in Guinea-Bissau (2009). 12. The Group appealed to the country’s development partners to fulfil the pledges made at the Lisbon International Conference in order to ensure the speedy and effective implementation of the Operational Plan for Combating Drug Trafficking, as adopted at the Conference. The Group reiterated the need for cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination so as to control the supply and demand chain. 13. The Group reiterated the need to emphasize the regional dimension of the phenomenon of drug trafficking and organised crime and to provide a national, TH 6 Session of the ICG-GB Page | 3 New York , 22 September 2009 Rev.1 ENG regional and international response to the issue. It advised that immediate steps be taken to implement the ECOWAS Plan of Action, by using Cape Verde, Guinea and Guinea Bissau as pilot countries. In this regard, the Council urged ECOWAS to facilitate the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the ECOWAS Commission to effectively monitor the situation in synergy with the international community. Socio-economic Situation and the Support of the International Community 14. The Group highlighted the complexity of the situation in Guinea-Bissau and called on all relevant international actors to continue to work in a more coordinated manner in the implementation of their programmes, and to assist the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to put in place the necessary institutional capacity, so that pledged assistance can translate into concrete projects in the socio-economic domain. 15. The Group commended the Government of Guinea-Bissau for its commitment to stabilise the macro-economic situation and ensure progress in the area of infrastructural development. The Group encouraged the Government to renew its commitment to long-term goals in the economy and also to other relevant sectors such as education, human resources and health, so as to strengthen the confidence of the population and the international community. 16. The Group acknowledged that Guinea-Bissau still remains the object of increased attention of the international community, as evidenced by the increasing support given to the country by multilateral institutions such as the UN, the EU, CPLP, ECOWAS, UEMOA, World Bank, IMF and ADB and welcomed the invaluable contribution of bilateral partners to the stabilisation and development of the country. The Group recognised the particular role played by UNOGBIS in maintaining relative calm in Guinea Bissau and welcomes the upcoming creation of the United Nations Integrated Office in Guinea Bissau (UNIOGBIS). 17. The Group applauded the role played by ECOWAS in the payment of three months’ salary arrears of the military totalling $3.5 million and the payment of an additional $350, 000 to close the budgetary gap, thereby ensuring the provision of adequate security during the recent Presidential election. The Group urged the ECOWAS, AU and the international community to work closely with Guinea Bissau TH 6 Session of the ICG-GB Page | 4 New York , 22 September 2009 Rev.1 ENG with a view to mobilizing the required resources for creating employment, ensuring fiscal discipline, efficient management of resources as well as effective revenue generation. 18. In this context, the Group acknowledged the substantial financial and technical support pledged by the European Commission to the country to support work in the areas of democracy, security and development. It also noted the role of the Peacebuilding Commission as an important tool in consolidating peace and security in the country. Mobilising the International Community 19. The Group vowed to rally the International Community for an International Donors Conference in 2010 aimed at mobilising the necessary financial resources for the economic development and stabilisation of the country, including the setting up of an International Fund for retirement pensions of the military. The Group underscored the need for a thorough preparation and identification of projects and programmes for the Conference and has thus welcomed the Nigerian proposal, endorsed by the last ECOWAS Summit, for a donors meeting in Abuja before the end of 2009. 20. Furthermore, the Group stressed the point that, in order to be more efficient and effective, international support and assistance should be simultaneously linked to the economic, political and the security sectors. The international community should therefore explore the possibility of adopting internationally accepted best practices to combine quick impact programmes with medium-term strategic programmes. 21. The Group agreed to hold consultations as to the date and venue of its next meeting. Done in New York, 22 September 2009. TH 6 Session of the ICG-GB Page | 5 New York , 22 September 2009 Rev.1 ENG .
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