3 February 2011 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Guinea-Bissau today highlighted the United Nations commitment to reinforce Bissau-Guinean institutional capacities as part of its support to the Security Sector Reform process.

"Within the renewed mandate of UNIOGBIS, provided by Security Council Resolution 1949, we will be always seeking to promote the institutional capacity of Bissau-Guinean partners within the most advanced international standards of management and support to organizational change", Joseph Mutaboba said at the launch ceremony of the vetting and certification process for the Internal Security Organizations. "Our commitment, as UN partners, in supporting implementation of national strategies for Security Sector Reform, Defense and Justice, will be to contribute to the strengthening of institutional capacity, in line with the priorities identified by the Bissau-Guinean authorities".

Today's ceremony brought together the ministers of Defense and Interior as well as diplomats and representatives of national security institutions.

The project which is supported by UNIOGBIS through the SSR/UN Police section will start with the Public Order Police (POP) and is considered essential for the reform within the security forces. A National Technical Independent Mixed Commission created and appointed last month will be responsible for establishing the criteria and carrying out the process for police and military personnel.

For Mutaboba, the project "could contribute to helping Bissau-Guineans partners to strengthen their institutions, regarding human and financial resources, from a standpoint of economy of scale and orientation to a concept of Public service modernized". He finally highlighted the need for "a consistent willingness to accomplish the changes" to enhance the security structures in Guinea-Bissau in order to achieve "the desired stability".

Guinea-Bissau Minister of Defense Aristides Ocante da Silva ensured that conditions will be created to make SSR a dignified process while the Minister of Interior Dinis Cablol Na Fantchamna reinsured the Government commitment to the success of the reform.