The Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) resolved to dispatch a mission to Guinea-Bissau to accompany the process of stabilizing democracy in that country.
The CPLP mission will act in conjunction with the local government, military and political organizations, and civil society representatives.
In its III Special Session, held November 1 in Portugal, the CPLP also decided to establish a temporary liaison office in Guinea-Bissau.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau was the only topic discussed at the meeting. Early last month that country was the scene of a military rebellion that resulted in the assassination of two high-ranking military officers.
According to a note released by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations, the CPLP Council of Ministers manifested support for Guinean government authorities in their effort to normalize life in the country and rejected all shows of force that “attempt to constrain the activities of the democratically elected government.”
The Ministry’s note stresses that “actions of this nature will lead to the isolation of Guinea-Bissau, with inevitable consequences for the mobilization of resources on behalf of its development.”
The Council also decided to mobilize and coordinate efforts to bolster international assistance for the country’s development, as well as to urge the United Nations to augment its activities in Guinea-Bissau.
According to the note, the CPLP will continue to act in the country jointly with other organs, such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the West African Economic Development Community.
The following countries are members of the CPLP: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, San Tomé and Principe, and East Timor.
Agência Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein