14 December 2010 - The United Nations in Guinea-Bissau is ready to continue providing support to the country's National Conference process, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General today said as he linked the initiative to the UN Office (UNIOGBIS) mandate.

Joseph Mutaboba was speaking in Mansoa (center of Guinea-Bissau) at the opening ceremony of the first of eight conferences within Guinea-Bissau security and defence forces, as part of the preparatory process of the National Reconciliation Conference, scheduled for 2011.

In his statement, Mutaboba also reminded the Security Council 1949 resolution that "urges the Government and all political stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to work together to consolidate peace and stability in the country and intensify efforts for genuine and inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation".

The ceremony iof Mansoa, which brought together 50 military from the North military region, was chaired by the Speaker of the Parliament, the entity which is organizing the conference. Addressing the participants, Raimundo Pereira stated that "for the Armed Forces, it is the moment to find solutions to our pains". Members of the Government, Members of Parliament and diplomats attended Mansoa's ceremony.

At the same time, another meeting directed to paramilitary forces was held in Sao Domingos (northeast) and was attended by 50 police agents, border guards, forest guards and firefighters.

Similar meetings are expected to take place next week in Bafata and Gabu, for military and paramilitary forces from the East region, and in January, in Buba (south) and the capital Bissau. The inputs of these thematic conferences as well as the outcomes of the regional and diaspora conferences will be discussed at the National Conference of 2011.