UN News Centre - Applauding recent efforts by Guinea-Bissau to bring drug traffickers to justice, the Security Council today urged the West African country's Government to strengthen its international and regional cooperation to fight the narcotics trade and organized crime.

In a statement to the press after an open meeting today, Council members voiced concern over what they described as "the acute threat posed by drug trafficking and organized crime to the peace consolidation process."
The Secretary-General's latest report on Guinea-Bissau, released earlier this week, also warned of the danger that the illicit drug trade represents to a country struggling to make political and economic progress.

Council members noted the Government's recent efforts to implement an anti-narcotics operation plan and called on the international community to enhance its support for this, according to the press statement, read out by Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff of the United States, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month.
The statement also welcomed Cape Verde's decision to host an upcoming regional conference on drug trafficking and organized crime.

Earlier this year it was announced that legislative elections are being scheduled for 16 November, and Council members welcomed the preparations so far.

"They commended the international partners for their pledges in support of the elections and they urged the international community to continue to provide technical, material and financial resources in order to fill the current gaps and ensure effective and timely elections," the statement said.

The 15-member Council received briefings today from Shola Omoregie, the Secretary-General's Representative for Guinea-Bissau and head of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office (UNOGBIS) there and from Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).