PSC/PR/Comm.(XXXI)
Page 1
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 31ST MEETING
OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 31st meeting,
held on 8 June 2005, adopted the following decision on the situation in Guinea-Bissau:
Council,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in
Guinea-Bissau [PSC/PR/2(XXXI)];
2.
Welcomes the progress made towards the full restoration of constitutional rule in
Guinea-Bissau following the events of 14 September 2003. Council further welcomes
the presidential elections scheduled to take place on 19 June 2005 and the fact that the
electoral campaign launched by all the candidates on 28 May 2005 has thus far been
conducted in a relatively calm atmosphere;
3.
Appreciates the efforts made by Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria,
current Chairperson of the AU, Mamadou Tandja of Niger, current Chairman of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Abdoulaye Wade of
Senegal, as well as by the international community at large, to lower the tension among
political parties and contribute to a climate conducive to the holding of peaceful,
transparent, free and fair presidential elections;
4.
Urges all the presidential candidates and their followers to refrain from any act
that may disrupt the electoral process, to commit themselves to accepting the results of
the election, and to address any complaints that may be filed through the mechanisms
provided to that end;
5.
Welcomes the decision of the Commission to deploy an observer mission to
monitor the presidential elections of 19 June 2005;
6.
Stresses the need for the international community to help all the parties and
stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to engage in political dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation
and inclusiveness in order to enhance efforts towards peace, stability and socioeconomic development and facilitate all necessary reforms in this respect;
7.
Appeals to the AU partners and to the international community at large to
continue to provide the necessary assistance to help Guinea-Bissau to meet its
immediate and long term development needs and, in that regard, calls for the
acceleration of the preparations for the Donors Round Table Conference scheduled to
be held in October 2005;