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The Security Council has urged the UN system and Government of Guinea-Bissau to take action against illicit drug and organised crime. It noted with deep concern the threat that drug and human trafficking posed to peace consolidation in Guinea-Bissau and the stability of West Africa
The president of the world council, Leslie Kojo Christian of Ghana called upon the government, with support from the international community, to take action to safeguard the security of officials involved in combating those crimes.
The Council welcomed the decision by the Economic Community of West African States to convene a regional conference later this year aimed at developing a regional plan of action to deal with the challenge.
It also welcomed the scheduled legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau in 2008 and called on all segments of the country’s society to ensure that they took place in a peaceful and orderly fashion. It appealed to the international community to provide the necessary logistical and technical support to ensure the effective and timely organisation of the polls.
The 15-Member Council welcomed the cooperation between Guinea-Bissau and international financial and development agencies and requested UN chief Ban to present proposals on how best the UN could provide effective assistance in an integrated and holistic manner to national efforts towards stabilisation.
The Council expressed its intent to consider as a matter of priority the request from the Prime Minister that Guinea-Bissau be placed on the agenda of the Peace building Commission.
The Security Council also expressed its concern with the fragility of the democratisation process in Guinea-Bissau, as well as persistent economic and social crisis. It recognised the importance of containing and reversing the threat of drug trafficking to the peace consolidation process in Guinea-Bissau.
It recalled its previous statements on Guinea-Bissau, and having considered 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 reaffirmed its support for the continuing efforts to consolidate peace in that country, in a presidential statement
It acknowledged that there is a need for profound reform of the justice sector, including the combat against organised crime and drug trafficking. The government continued with its effort to improve relations with international partners and to enhance the country’s external credibility in order to mobilise resources for its Minimum Public Finance Stability Programme.
It noted the threat posed by drug and human trafficking, which can undermine the important gains made with respect to rule of law, democratic and transparent governance. The Council further noted that the danger posed by drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau could have negative implications towards the region, as well as other regions.
The report stated that there has been improvement in government revenue but there are still structural problems in curbing expenditure. Spain and Guinea-Bissau signed a cooperation agreement worth 15 million dollars, covering the area of democratic governance and the social sector.
The governments of Portugal and Guinea-Bissau signed an annual cooperation plan for 2007 worth some 10 million dollars, as well as a memorandum of understanding for assistance in combating drug trafficking.

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