Bissau, 24 October 2011 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau and Head of UNIOGBIS, Joseph Mutaboba, on Monday held discussions with political parties represented in the National Parliament on the National Conference preparatory process.

Political parties expectations and proposals for the upcoming conference as well as the United Nations support to the initiative were at the center of the meeting. SRSG Mutaboba also informed participants about his mission to New York next week to brief the Security Council on Guinea-Bissau situation, stating that the Council is monitoring the national conference process.

The meeting brought together the First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and president of the Conference's organiz¬ing commission, Serifo Nhamadjo, and representatives of PAIGC (ruling party), PRID and PND as well as the UN delegation was composed of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Gana Fofang, members of UNIOGBIS Political Affairs section and UNDP peace advisor.

The "National Conference - Towards Peace Consolidation and Development" is scheduled for December 2011 in Bissau following a long preparatory process which included consultations within members of defense and security forces, members of Bissau-Guinean diaspora in Dakar and Lisbon and regional conferences. The initiative was launched by the National Parliament with the support of the President of Republic and is backed by the UN and some bilateral partners.