18 May 2013 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, welcomed on Saturday in Bissau the efforts being made by the Guinean authorities to form a broad-based government.

Speaking to the press after a meeting that Transitional President Serifo Nhamajo held with the diplomatic corps to brief them on the efforts being made by the President, the National Assembly, the Government and Civil Society with a view to the formation of the broad-based government, Ramos-Horta said "the process is ongoing".

"We welcome the initiative of the President in this dialogue and we have more hope and certainty that there will be a broader government supported by all so that the elections can be prepared seriously," he said.

According to the Special Representative, the mobilization of resources for the elections will demand much work, but he stressed that resources were also required for the humanitarian and social emergency situation in Guinea-Bissau.

« We have received information on the existing difficulties from the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme." He said. "We, the international community, are concerned about the elections and the humanitarian situation."