18 November 2009 - A joint United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West-African States (ECOWAS) delegation, headed by the Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Joseph Mutaboba, on Wednesday met with Guinea-Bissau Prime minister Carlos Gomes Júnior.

During the meeting, the delegation assured the Government of the continuing support of the international community to the implementation of the Security Sector Reform (SSR), stressing that advantage should be taken of the current window of opportunity in Guinea-Bissau.

Moreover, the joint-delegation encouraged Guinea-Bissau authorities to adopt further effective and concrete measures with respect to SSR implementation, to enable the international community to effectively enhance its provision of support. An international round table on the reform is expected to take place early next year.

Wednesday's meeting was seen as an indicator marking the decision of international partners to increase coordination of their support to Guinea-Bissau SSR, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1876 of 26 June 2009.

Others members of the joint-delegation were ECOWAS Special Representative - also representing AU -, Hamed Sidibé; the Head of the European Commission Delegation, Franco Nulli; Spain's Ambassador and current EU council presidency representative; Angel Ballesteros; Head of EU-SSR/ESDP mission, General Juan Verastegui; and, a representative of the Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO).