Summary: April 26, 2002: EU Statement on East Timor (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area Iceland and Liechtenstein align themselves with this statement.
I would first like to warmly welcome the President-elect of East Timor Mr. Xanana Gusmao and the Chief Minister Mr. Mari Alkatiri. Their presence here today demonstrates the democratic commitment and the remarkable achievement of the East Timorese people towards independence and reconciliation.
We congratulate most warmly the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, for an outsanding record as head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) while trusting that his service to the United Nations will continue.
We salute the Secretary-General´s decision to appoint H.E. Mr. Kamalesh Sharma as the future Special Representative for East Timor. We are confident that he will be an excellent head of the successor Mission to UNTAET.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes the peaceful elections of 14 April in which Mr. Gusmao was elected President by a high majority after a very good turn out. Once again, the East Timorese people have shown great political maturity, giving a perfect example of a country that has chosen democracy as the only way towards progress and welfare. We would like to thank the Independent Electoral Commission for organising this succesful election and highlight that its East Timorese staff has played a major
role.
We note with satisfaction that President Xanana Gusmao has declared that his main goals will be national reconciliation, the establishment of international relations, political progress and economic development.
The European Union also strongly welcomes the signing of the Constitution which will come into force the day of independence. We are sure that it will provide the basis for stability, democracy, freedom, justice and security for the East Timorese people.
On the 20th of May 2002 a nation-wide event is planned to mark East Timor's Independence. The Member States of the European Union will be adequatly represented at this celebration in order to welcome a new nation to the international community of States.
Mr. President,
The European Union strongly supports the UN peacekeeping and supportive role after independence as recommended by the Secretary-General in his last report. With continued peace as the main precondition for development and democracy in East Timor, it is essential that the peacekeeping force is phased out with due consideration to security development on the ground. We agree with the Secretary-General that the new UN mission should provide stability and viability to the East Timorese emergent
public administration, assist in the development of a law enforcement agency operating in accordance with international human rights standards, and contribute to the maintenance of external and internal security.
In this context we want to commend the SG for the excellent report recently published which is consistent with his precedent reports and gives a detailed description of the proposed UN successor mission. The EU supports that the Security Council adopts a resolution creating the new UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) as proposed by the SG.
The efforts of UNMISET and the future of East Timor will depend on the resources made available. The EU welcomes the proposal that the civilian support group and the serious crimes unit be included in the civilian component of UNMISET, thus to be financed through assessed contributions.
Mr. President
In only two and a half years, East Timor has moved from devastation to the establishment of the foundations of a new country and the rehabilitation of basic infrastructure that can support economic and social activity. Less than a month before independence, the new institutions are assuming a number of functions and responsibilities in areas such as Public Administration, Security and Social and Economic affairs. Still, they will require sustained support from the International Community. The
EU and its Member States are willing to continue to assist East Timor in its path to sustainable development and urges the International Community to support East Timor.
Mr. President,
Without internal and external security, East Timor will not succeed as an independent nation. The EU understands the need to ensure that police and military institutions are adequately equipped and trained. We commend the work already achieved by the United Nations, in cooperation with some donors, in the establishment of those institutions and take note of the SG´s concern that additional training and donor support will be required after independence in order to guarantee that East Timorese
security forces are fully operational on January 2004.
We note the positive forecast in the report about the gradual diminution of militia activity, though this is a function of various factors such as a successful solution of the refugee problem, an agreement with Indonesia about the delimitation of the common border and the success of the reconciliation and reintegration process, among others.
Mr President
After months of slow progress, recent refugee returns are encouraging. As the SG notes in his report, this reflects confidence in the present situation and optimism for the future. We hope that this trend will be consolidated. To this end, it is important that a prompt and fair solution to resettlement either in East Timor or Indonesia is found.
The EU welcomes the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to solve this question, namely its decision to settle the payments of pensions to former members of Indonesian civil servants, police and armed forces in East Timor until independence day. We hope those payments will commence before independence. We encourage Indonesia and the International Community to further support the Consolidated Appeal for East Timor refugees.
The EU urges Indonesia, together with East Timor, to resolve residual matters between the two countries, including judicial cooperation and a new border regime.
Mr. President,
The EU strongly encourages the future East Timorese Government to respect human rights and continue to build on human rights achievements and ensure that all future legislation will be consistent with international human rights standards. In this regard we welcome efforts to strengthen the East Timorese judicial system, including the Serious Crimes Unit, so that justice and the rule of law can be a reality in East Timor.
The European Union welcomes the important steps taken by the Government of Indonesia to bring to justice the perpetrators of gross human rights violations in East Timor, but shares the SG´s regret that the jurisdiction of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal has not been expanded yet to cover all districts and the period from January to October 1999. The international community will continue to follow developments in this field in Indonesia.
Mr. President,
As the 20th of May 20 draws near we are closer to welcoming East Timor as a new Member State of the United Nations, when not more than three years ago that name was sinonimous with conflict and human suffering. This success is the fruit of brave resolve on the part of the East Timorese, generous commitment of the International Community and a will to find peace through dialogue and reconciliation. Let us hope this example is fully realised there and followed in other afflicted regions of the
world.
Thank you Mr. President.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page