12-02-2007_Timor-Leste - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

Security Council
12 Feberuary 2007

Statement by HE the Hon Robert Hill
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN

The situation in Timor-Leste

(check against delivery)

Mr President

We welcome the opportunity to again address the Security Council and to contribute to the Council’s deliberations on Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste continues to need the sustained attention and support of UN member states and the international community has responded admirably to the situation in Timor-Leste. We welcome the ongoing and broad-ranging work of the United Nation’s Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) to address the challenges facing East Timor. We congratulate Dr Atul Khare on his appointment as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Timor-Leste.

We agree with the Secretary-General’s comments in his most recent report that the long-term commitment of the international community to Timor-Leste remains critical to enabling the return of this new nation to the path of stability and development in a climate of democratic, accountable and responsive governance. We strongly support the renewal of UNMIT’s mandate for a further 12 months.

Mr President

Australia remains at the forefront of efforts by the international community to assist Timor-Leste. Along with New Zealand, Australia is a member of the international security force, which supports UNMIT police in maintaining law and order and security. Presently there are around 810 Australians as well as New Zealand military personnel deployed to the international security force. Fifty Australian police officers are deployed to UNMIT police.

Australia has increased contributions to address humanitarian aspects of the crisis to A$10 million.

Mr President

In the lead up to presidential and parliamentary elections in Timor-Leste, we welcome UNMIT’s support for political and community reconciliation. We consider that Timor-Leste's political future is ultimately a matter for the people of Timor-Leste: Timor-Leste's political leaders need to take responsibility for resolving their differences constitutionally and peacefully. This year’s presidential and parliamentary elections will be the first national elections to be managed by the Timorese themselves. The conduct of free fair and transparent elections will be a critical test of the robustness of Timor-Leste’s democracy.

We welcome the United Nation’s provision of technical and logistical assistance to Timor-Leste for the elections and the three-person independent electoral certification team, which is monitoring the election process. We would encourage that the certification team’s useful reports be acknowledged and its constructive recommendations implemented.

Australia has provided $1.3 million to support a United Nations Development Program project aimed at strengthening electoral institutions and processes.

Mr President

UNMIT police and the international security force continue to maintain stability in Timor-Leste. This will be an especially important role in the lead-up to national elections. While the overall situation has improved since May last year, it does remain fragile.

The recent signing of two security-related arrangements, the Technical Arrangement covering the parameters of the international security force deployment and the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Trilateral Coordination Forum, demonstrate the shared commitment of the United Nations, Australia and Timor-Leste to ensuring stability and security.

These arrangements formalise the close working relationship that has developed between the United Nations, international security force, and Timor-Leste Government.

Australia emphasises the need to build a sustainable Timor-Leste police force, which will have the confidence and culture to be able to deal with any future crisis of law and order in a fair and just way. We will offer significant assistance to the new force.

We also emphasise the need for a comprehensive and timely security sector review to address the future direction and shape of the Timor-Leste defence force. Australia stands ready to assist in this process.

Mr President

The international community has again come to the assistance of Timor-Leste. UNMIT represents an important opportunity to repair and rebuild those institutions which have been damaged or destroyed during the recent crisis and to further strengthen those institutions which have shown resilience. The international security force provides an important support function to ensure UNMIT is able to focus on these important activities.

We now encourage the people of Timor-Leste to take responsibility for their own affairs and especially look forward to the conduct of peaceful and trouble-free elections.

Thank you.