European Union Mission for the Security Sector Reform in Guinea

European Union Mission for the Security Sector Reform in Guinea

European Union Mission for the Security Sector Reform in Guinea-Bissau
EU SSR GB NEWSLETTER – 10
August - September 2010
Editorial by the Head of Mission
UNTIL FOREVER
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=1413&lang=en
Avn, Unidade Africana - Bissau
+ 245 6244984 / + 245 545 4501
On 30 September the European Union Mission for the
Security Sector Reform in Guinea-Bissau (EU SSR GB) will
complete 28 months since it first started work. After
fulfilling its mandate and analyzing the situation in the
light of the events of the past two years, the EU
considered that the political conditions at the moment
were not favorable for the deployment of a new mission
to monitor the implementation phase of the reform
process.
It will seem, to the less attentive or to the malicious that
the EU is leaving with no glory or with no work done,
abandoning the people of Guinea-Bissau to their fate.
They could not be more wrong. The EU is only
withdrawing its technical advisory mission which for
more than two years assisted the Bissau Guinean
authorities to draw up a comprehensive legislative
package that will render the National Security Strategy
operational. The EU is maintaining its diplomatic
delegation, and with it, a whole structure, capable of
further assisting the country by seeking new forms of
cooperation, without abandoning the most diverse
projects and programs it is engaged in, either directly or
indirectly through its member countries.
By way of assessment, we can say that we are leaving
with a clear conscience by virtue of the work we have
done, but, sad, and somehow, disappointed because we
could not carry on with the subsequent stage of
implementing the measures recommended in the
process; including the restructure of an Armed Forces
that respect the rule of law, the creation of the National
Guard and its implementation throughout the national
territory, and the full functioning of the Justice structures
of this country. We are leaving however, serene and
confident that the people of Guinea Bissau will know how
to follow the path to peace, security, prosperity and
justice that we helped to prepare, never losing sight of
the goals outlined in the Strategy Document, by trying to
mobilize all internal synergies and foreign aid to achieve
the defined targets, that will contribute to setting this
martyred people free from the ties of the past and come
out of the stagnation in which has been immersed for
decades.
It is always painful to say goodbye, and this one is parti-
cularly so, because we have learned to love this country
and its people, with whom we have shared anxieties and
fears, joys and sorrows, disappointments and hopes,
realizing how great their willingness is for change and
how frustrating is the inability to reverse this status quo.
We have learnt to tolerate and understand the
continuous abuses of those who, against the most
elementary respect for constitutional order and through
the trampling of sacred values of loyalty and honor, and
disrespect for the norms and institutions democratically
elected by the People, are constantly retarding the
development of this country.
There are times, however, when we must say enough is
enough… There are principles which the EU cannot and
will not renounce, in respect of the peoples that make up
this Union and in the defense of their ancestral and
sacred values that keeps it consistent and at the
forefront in the Defense of Freedom, Dignity and Human
Rights.
There is one thing left to say: a big word of appreciation
to those who have worked with us and who we deeply
respect and appreciate for the exceptional qualities and
professional values demonstrated during this period and
who well deserve a public recognition of merit, winning
the right to take positions of greater responsibility and
risk within their respective institutions. Finally, to the illfated people of Guinea-Bissau: We take you along in our
hearts, affirming solemnly the commitment, to never
forget you and to contribute, with our humble
contribution and our fervent prayers, that you may
quickly reach the much desired and deserved peace and
prosperity to educate your beloved children in respect
for human dignity, in a climate of equal opportunities,
sustainable development, justice, security and social
peace.
European Union Mission for the Security Sector Reform in Guinea-Bissau
The Defense Pillar of the Security Sector Reform
In the past two and a half months, we have attained the
objective of analyzing and discussing, along with the
upper structure of the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau,
the Organic Laws of the General Staff of the Armed
Forces, of the Army, the Navy and Air Force, draft
decrees resulting from the Maritime Authority System,
concretely those relating to the National Maritime
Authority, the System of Infractions and the Maritime
Activities Coordination Centre, to be jointly located with
the Centre for Maritime Operations and Security and the
Bissau Naval Base.
In conclusion, once His Excellency the President of the
Republic promulgates the Organic Law of Basis of the
Organization of the Armed Forces, with the changes
already made to be approved by the National Assembly
during its next session, from October 4, the entire
defence legal package, considered fundamental, will be
duly approved and promulgated.
The work produced would not have reached such an
extent, if it were not for the brilliant, enlightened and
permanent collaboration of three top officials of the
Guinean Armed Forces, in addition to the valuable
information provided and gathered through numerous
visits to units and military barracks located throughout
the national territory. This is to emphasize the attitude,
total cooperation and firm confidence felt by all our
interlocutors towards the work of the Mission.
May the tree now planted be so strong, firm and
disciplined in its growth, like the one whose image, day
after day, remains lofty at São José de Amura Fort.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=1413&lang=en
Avn, Unidade Africana - Bissau
+ 245 6244984 / + 245 545 4501
Le cadre légal des forces de police entre en vigueur
The program started at the Officers Club, but was
however moved to the facilities of the General Staff at
São José de Amura Fort, in order to allow the daily
presence of the Chief of Defence Staff (CHOD), the
officers of his staff and from the different branches. The
thematic demonstration was prepared and rehearsed in
the Mission, while the presentation was done by
representatives of the Armed Forces, in a total of 19
sessions of discussion and analysis. This emphasizes the
very high interest and participation of the officers and
resulted in contributions that were introduced in project
documents.
L’adoption par l’Assemblée Nationale du Peuple des Lois
Organiques relatives à la Police de l’Ordre Public (POP) et
à la future Garde Nationale (GN) en Mai, leur
promulgation par le Président de la République en Juin et
leur publication au numéro 25 du «Boletim Oficial» ce
mois de Septembre, confèrent enfin un cadre légal aux
forces de police.
In addition, guidelines and projects leading to the military
strategic concept, to the missions of the Armed Forces,
the forces system device and the national forces
dispositive were also analyzed.
Doté de cet arsenal législatif, le Ministère de l’Intérieur
peut désormais s’atteler à la création de la GN et la
restructuration de la POP conformément à la
planification élaborée par le groupe de travail composé
des représentants du ministère de l’intérieur des
conseillers européens et des membres de la coopération
bilatérale portugaise. Les premières mesures attendues
consistent à affecter un bâtiment destinés à abriter les
services de l’état-major de la Garde Nationale, de
pourvoir rapidement à la nomination du commandant de
ce corps et d’activer le Service des Ressources Humaines
de cette entité pour lui permettre d’assurer, après
exploitation des résultats du recensement, la gestion des
personnels devant intégrer cette institution.
The analysis and discussion of the afore mentioned
framework will greatly facilitate the advancement of that
very vast legal package; that is, the next step will be its
handing-over to the Minister of Defence, and
consequently to the Government for enactment.
Cette phase cruciale sera suivie par le transfert de
compétence entre certaines unités de la POP au profit de
la GN et la création d’unités spécialisées destinées à
assumer les missions actuellement dévolues à des
services ne dépendant pas du ministère de l’intérieur.