New Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General arrives in Bissau

13 February 2013 - The new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, arrived on Wednesday, 13 February 2013, in Bissau.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, Ramos-Horta expressed his intention, based on the mandate he received from the Security Council, to work with the authorities of Guinea-Bissau, with civil society, and Guinea-Bissau's regional and international partners with a view to the resolution of the crisis affecting the country.

"We are going to engage in dialogue with all our partners, in particular ECOWAS [the Economic Community of West African States], which is the frontline sub-regional organisation," said the new head of the UN Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau, UNIOGBIS.
He stated that he would be in permanent consultations with all regional and international partners - the African Union (AU), Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), ECOWAS and European Union (EU) - "so that we can find the best way forward, with our brothers of Guinea-Bissau"

"I was sent here to serve the cause of peace," added Mr. Ramos-Horta (63), a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of Timor-Leste.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of José Ramos-Horta as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) on 31 December 2012.