06 April 2010 - The President of the Security Council in April, Ambassador Yukio Takasu, has called for a rethinking of the strategy to create stability in Guinea-Bissau. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday following a meeting of the Council behind closed doors, Ambassador Takasu recalled that the Security Council recently expressed concern about activities of the military in the country.

The Council called for an end to attempts to change the constitutional order by violence and instead to settle differences through dialogue.

The President of the Security Council said Council members once again had a very good discussion of why this cycle of instability does not stop in Guinea-Bissau.

He said the Security Council has made several attempts to help the peace building process in the country.
"I think there is a requirement of fundamental rethinking about our strategy. Are we really on the right track or not. Particularly, it's easy to say that security sector reform is key for the success of peace building. But what do we mean by security sector reform? How many people should stay in the military, how they should be paid, how they should retire? Those are important things. Without this clear strategy, it's not just enough to say that this is important."

Ambassador Takasu noted that Guinea-Bissau is calm at the moment but the Security Council agreed to monitor the situation closely. (Source- UN Radio)