Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4776th meeting, 19 June 2003, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Guinea-Bissau"]

Urges the country's leaders and the international community to work more purposefully together to ensure that the development, humanitarian and peace-building agendas are quickly put back on track; appeals to the President and Government of Guinea-Bissau to timely and effectively organize the forthcoming legislative elections and to ensure that these elections are conducted in a transparent, fair and credible manner, in accordance with the Constitution and the electoral law; calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to take the necessary steps to facilitate a constructive dialogue with the international community and the Bretton Woods institutions and to fully endorse the partnership approach defined by the ad hoc advisory group of the UN Economic and Social Council on Guinea-Bissau; appeals to the donor community to contribute financially to the implementation of the political and economical process in Guinea-Bissau, including necessary support for the legislative elections; expresses its concern with regard to the situation of human rights and civil liberties, and urges the Government of Guinea-Bissau to take the necessary measures in order to improve this situation; stresses the importance that freedom of speech and freedom of the press be fully respected.

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