Summary: October 31, 2001: Declaration in name of the E.U. by M. Stéphane de Loecker, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN. The situation in 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, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries of 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 thank the Secretary-General's Special Representative (SRSG) Sergio Vieira de Mello for being here and once again offer him our warm congratulations for all his work as head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). We are particularly pleased to see, and extend a warm welcome to several members of the transitional government who were democratically elected to the Constituent Assembly the Chief Minister, Mr. Mari Alkatiri, his Minister for
Finance, Ms Fernanda Borges, and his Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Fernando de Araujo. The EU takes this unique opportunity to offer them, with confidence and conviction, its support in the exercise of their functions.
Mr. President,
The people of East Timor are living in remarkable and very stimulating times. Its representatives elected to the Assembly have begun the process of drafting the Constitution of the future State. As the SRSG has just confirmed, the work is going well and making good headway; the EU welcomes this. It is important that the views of the Timorese people gathered in the reports by the district Constitutional Commissions in June and July this year, before the electoral campaign, are reflected in the
finalized draft Constitution.
We welcome the decision taken by the Constituent Assembly, further recommended by the Secretary-General (SG) to schedule for next May the transfer of UNTAET's powers of sovereignty to the Government of the State of East Timor. That will allow the Timorese time to ensure a smooth transition and to allow the gradual but necessary stabilization of administrative structures.
The possible holding of the first presidential elections of the new State will be another important step towards democracy and the construction of a viable nation. We agree with the SG that the elections should take place before the declaration of independence so that, before it leaves, UNTAET can ensure that the elections go smoothly.
The continuing activities of the militias in West Timor remain one of our principal concerns. We are pleased to note the increase in the number of refugees that return to West Timor. We underline the importance of a swift conclusion of a Memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and the Indonesian government to allow the return of the humanitarian agencies to assist the repatriation efforts
Mr. President,
We thank the SG for drawing up the plans for the future international presence in East Timor. The EU has taken careful note of the suggested reduction in the size of the military, civilian police and civil administration components. This reconfiguration, proposed following numerous consultations with the representatives of the Timorese people, should be capable of meeting the principal needs of the people once independence has been declared. The EU therefore endorses the recommendations by the
SG for an integrated mission, and looks forward to his further recommendations.
For the present, the EU hopes that the dialogue between UNTAET, the Secretariat, the Timorese people and all the other actors involved in Timor (Member States, UN agencies, international financial institutions and NGOs) will continue in order to ensure progressive adaptation of UNTAET and a painless transition to the successor mission in line with the needs of the people.
As the SG emphasized in his report, the departure of United Nations (UN) staff will have a negative impact on Timor's economy. The international community must ensure that this impact is minimized and the working party's recommendations on the subject are expected shortly.
The future international presence will continue to face a heavy task of reconstruction. The EU will participate in cooperation with the international financial institutions and all the actors involved. The EU will continue to attach particular importance to the process of national reconciliation. It is indispensable for the perpetrators of the serious crimes committed in 1999 to be brought to justice. Training of staff and future civil servants of the State of Timor in criminal and
administrative justice and of the Serious Crime Unit is crucial in this respect. We reiterate our call that the Government in Jakarta concludes the appeals procedure in the case of the murder last year of three UNHCR workers in Atambua.
The reconstruction efforts will also have to deal with improving basic services (health, education) and rehabilitating transport networks so that the living conditions of the Timorese gradually return to normal. The European Commission, which hosted the donors conference last December is currently finalizing its strategy aimed at supporting the development efforts in the mid and long-term towards Timor.
Mr. President,
UNTAET's success is undeniable, the ground covered since autumn 1999 is remarkable. The international community must also make a success of UNTAET's departure and the transition to an international presence that will be both effective and efficient in its reconstruction efforts. The UN Secretariat and its various departments have the EU's full support in this task and in planning the next stages.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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