The below reports are prepared by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) and are presented to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) at its bi-annual meeting.
The reports provide an assessment of the efforts of the Palestinian Government toward state-building and an update on the situation on the ground.
The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) serves as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The AHLC is chaired by Norway and co-sponsored by the EU and the US. In addition, the United Nations participates together with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The AHLC seeks to promote dialogue between donors, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. The full report to the AHLC prepared by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process is attached to this release and includes an executive summary of its main conclusions.
- Socio-Economic Reports
- Socio-Economic Reports
- Statements by the UN Special Coordinator
- SECURITY COUNCIL AND RELATED [revise]
26 March 2008 - Security Council Press Statement on Guinea-Bissau
The following Security Council press statement on Guinea-Bissau was read out today by Council President Vitaly Churkin ( Russian Federation):
Members of the Security Council heard a briefing on 26 March 2008 by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Shola Omoregie, on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, on the basis of the latest Secretary-General's report. Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Permanent Representative of Brazil and Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission's Country-Specific Configuration on Guinea-Bissau, also briefed the Council on the Peacebuilding Commission's engagement with the country.
Members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support for the continuing efforts made by the Government of Guinea-Bissau, working in close cooperation with its partners, to consolidate peace in the country.
Members of the Council noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission Country-Specific Configuration on Guinea-Bissau to develop a strategic peacebuilding framework, aiming at setting key priorities for consolidating peace and therefore allowing progress towards sustainable development in Guinea Bissau. Members of the Security Council looked forward to further advice from the Peacebuilding Commission as requested.
Members of the Council welcomed the outcome of the Lisbon International Conference on Drug Trafficking held on 19 December 2007, and supported the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative to convene a regional conference on the subject. Members of the Security Council appealed to the international community to assist the Government and provide enhanced support and training for Guinea-Bissau's law enforcement and criminal justice system within the wider framework of security-sector reform and the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.
Members of the Security Council welcomed the launch of the security-sector reform programme in January 2008 and the efforts made by donor countries and regional organizations, in particular the European Union and ECOWAS, to assist in implementing the programme.
Members of the Security Council noted with satisfaction the announcement made by President Joao Bernardo Vieira to hold legislative elections on 16 November 2008. They called on the Government to accelerate the preparations for these elections. They further appealed to the international community to provide the financial and material resources necessary to ensure the effective and timely organization of the polls.
Members of the Security Council recognized and commended the important role played by the Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, as well as by the United Nations Country Team, and in this regard recall the request to the Secretary-General contained in presidential statement S/PRST/2007/38 to present proposals on how best the United Nations could provide effective assistance in an integrated and holistic manner to national efforts.
- SECURITY COUNCIL AND RELATED [revise]
April 9, 2009 - Statement by the President of the Security Council
At the 6105th meeting of the Security Council, held on 9 April 2009, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Guinea-Bissau", the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:
"The Security Council recalls its previous statements on Guinea-Bissau, and notes the latest report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS). The Council reaffirms its support for the continuing efforts to consolidate peace in that country.
"The Security Council welcomes the swearing-in as Interim President of Guinea-Bissau of M. Raimundo Pereira and notes with satisfaction the commitment of the new authorities to maintain the constitutional order, following the assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira and of the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces, Tagme Na Waie, and to deepen national consensus on the transition and the electoral process.
"The Security Council also welcomes the convening of the presidential election for 28 June 2009, and urges the Government and all political actors to create the best conditions for the holding of a free, fair, transparent and credible presidential election. It welcomes the assistance already provided by bilateral and multilateral partners to support the electoral budget, and calls upon the donors to continue to provide technical and financial assistance for the electoral process.
"The Security Council takes note of the Final communiqué of the 26th Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council expressing the need to deploy military and police contingents to ensure the protection of the republican institutions, the authorities, as well as the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, the Security Council invites ECOWAS to work in coordination with the Government of Guinea-Bissau.
"The Security Council condemns recent cases of arbitrary detentions, armed attacks and intimidation, and demands a full protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of the people of Guinea-Bissau. It urges the Armed Forces leadership to ensure that its commitment to abide by the civilian authorities and respect constitutional order is fully honoured.
"The Security Council stresses the importance of national reconciliation and the fight against impunity in Guinea-Bissau, and calls on the international community to support the Commission of Inquiry established to investigate the assassinations of the President and of the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces.
"The Security Council reiterates the importance of the security sector reform (SSR) in Guinea-Bissau, and in this regard, urges the international partners to continue to support the implementation of the quick-impact projects. It welcomes the convening of a roundtable on Guinea-Bissau's Security Sector Reform with a view to follow up the coordination and the implementation of the identified projects and programs on SSR, to be held in Praia, Cape Verde, on 20 April 2009.
"The Security Council remains seriously concerned by the growth in illegal drug trafficking, as well as transnational organized crime in Guinea-Bissau and in the sub-region. It commends the joint action of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Department of Political Affairs/UNOWA, Department of Peacekeeping Operation and INTERPOL to help implement the ECOWAS Plan of Action against drug trafficking. It calls upon the international community to continue to support the implementation of the Guinea-Bissau anti-narcotics operational Plan, as well as of the ECOWAS Plan of Action.
"The Security Council calls on the international community to provide timely and adequate support for the implementation of the Strategic Peacebuilding Framework adopted by the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). It looks forward to a sustainable mobilization of resources for economic reconstruction and peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau.
"The Security Council reiterates the importance of the regional dimension in the resolution of the problems faced by Guinea-Bissau and, in this regard, welcomes the role of the African Union, ECOWAS, CPLP, and the European Union in the peace-building process.
"The Security Council commends the Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of UNOGBIS, as well as the United Nations country team, the Peacebuilding Commission country-specific configuration on Guinea-Bissau for their contribution to peace, democracy and the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau. The Security Council reiterates that it looks forward to receiving recommendations from the Secretary-General on how the United Nations presence in Guinea-Bissau should be reconfigured to support
peacebuilding more effectively."
- SECURITY COUNCIL AND RELATED [revise]
March 3, 2009 - Security Council condemns assassinations of Guinea-Bissau’s President, Army Chief
The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Ibrahim Dabbashi (Libya): 1. The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Tagme Na Waie, on 1 and 2 March 2009. It expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and to the people and the Government of Guinea-Bissau.
"2. The Security Council calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to bring to justice those responsible for these violent acts. It calls upon the Government, the political leaders, the Armed Forces and the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, exercise restrain, maintain stability and constitutional order and respect the rule of law and the democratic process. It also urges all parties to resolve their disputes through political and peaceful means within the framework of its democratic institutions and opposes any attempt to change the Government through unconstitutional means.
"3. The Security Council welcomes, in this regard, the statements condemning the incidents by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union and other members of the international community, and calls on al to assist in preserving the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau and to continue to support peacebuilding efforts in the country.
"4. The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to support the efforts of the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau to consolidate democratic institutions, peace and stability in that country.
"5. The Security Council shall remain seized of the developments in Guinea-Bissau."