13 February 2013 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, was received on Wednesday 13 February 2013 by Transitional Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros, marking the start of a series of meetings Mr. Ramos-Horta plans to have with stakeholders, national partners and international partners.

The new head of the UN Integrated Peace-building Office in Guinea-Bissau, UNIOGBIS, told journalists after the half-hour meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Bissau that he was optimistic about his mission. "I am always an optimistic person, and my optimism is well-founded because I know Guinea-Bissau a little, " he said, "especially its people, who are very peaceful, disciplined, patient and include many very high-quality professionals who have always impressed me.

"There is also a process of dialogue underway, a process initiated by the President of the Republic with government, political parties, civil society. That is why I think we are on the right track towards the consolidation of stability and peace in Guinea-Bissau," he added, explaining that his optimism was guided by the level of determination of the Guineans and by the level of commitment on the part of the international community".

Asked whether he was confident in his mission's chances of success, he said "Yes, I am confident because, fortunately - as I have said on many occasions - Guinea-Bissau [...] has always been a very peaceful country, without the problems that persist in other regions of the world."

Noting that "the State is very fragile and needs to be supported by the international community," he said that," in reality, for all these years, Guinea-Bissau has never had much support from the international community.

"From my observation throughout the time that I was here, in 2004-2005, there was very little support from the international community. The international community also needs to learn from the mistakes of the past and direct its assistance so that it really benefits the people of Guinea-Bissau, especially the young people".

"We are going to try and open a new chapter," the new SRSG said, "but it is up to the Guineans to decide to serve their people. The United Nations is here to help. I was sent by Secretary-General Bank Ki-Moon with a clear, personal message from him, that of his commitment to support Guinea-Bissau to emerge from this persistent situation of instability."