UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Timor-Leste

Statement by H.E. the Hon Robert Hill Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
(As delivered)

13 June 2006

Madam President

We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this discussion on Timor-Leste.

Australia is grateful for the Security Council’s prompt attention in the form of the Council President’s statement of 25 May welcoming the presence of the international stabilisation force.

The rapid dispatch of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Ian Martin, was also a welcome development. And we have appreciated the opportunity to listen to his report today.

Madam President

Since 1999 the United Nations has, of course, been integrally involved in first bringing security to Timor-Leste and then beginning the process of nation-building.

There have been notable successes, but the recent crisis has demonstrated how fragile those successes have been and the need again for the international community including, importantly, the United Nations to help consolidate those successes.

As the Security Council is aware, Australia has again been deeply involved in the international response to deliver help. Along with Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal we have, at the request of Timor-Leste, deployed military and police to restore stability. We have deployed some 2,500 military personnel, with about 1900 on the ground at present. We have deployed 150 police and we are building that up to 200. And we believe that this presence will be necessary for some time

The international deployment is now meeting Timor-Leste’s immediate security needs. The presence of the deployment has stabilised the situation to the extent that violence is now sporadic, rather than continuing. Arson attacks have been substantially reduced. About 100 people have been arrested, and are being processed through the justice system, which is again functioning.

While four countries are contributing to the international deployment, there may be scope for broadening, on a voluntary basis and at the request of the government of Timor-Leste, such participation. We see no need for the stabilisation force to be brought under direct United Nations mandate. We want the UN to be free to focus on, and dedicate resources to, addressing Timor-Leste’s longer-term needs through a new Security Council-mandated mission.

Madam President

The international community must build on the momentum that has been provided by the stabilisation force. Australia would support a further 28-day extension of the UNOTIL mandate, but encourages the Council, supported by the Secretariat, to move urgently to design and implement a new mission.

The new mission, we believe, should be established under Chapter VII. In designing this mission, it is important to recognise that the problems of today are fundamentally different to those faced by the East Timorese people in 1999. The issues today are of internal governance and the failure of law and order, and it was in response to those challenges that the Government of Timor-Leste requested the assistance of external military forces.

Madam President

The new UN Mission should complement the international stabilisation force, and should address the key longer-term challenges facing Timor-Leste.

The first area of focus in our view for a new mission should be to establish an environment conducive to political and community reconciliation. It will be of vital importance to Timor-Leste’s long-term stability that the United Nations facilitates the efforts – urgently needed – of Timor-Leste’s leaders to build political dialogue and reconciliation. It is, of course, crucial that those leaders step up and take responsibility for achieving good governance and consolidating democracy within the framework of Timor-Leste’s constitution. They must lead their country beyond the point where international assistance is necessary whenever problems occur.

The United Nations must also focus on helping to restore the confidence of Timor-Leste’s people. In the short-term this will include addressing the needs of Internally Displaced People.

The international community with the United Nations must also conduct a thorough and independent investigation into recent violent events. The United Nations should also assist Timor-Leste prepare for, and hold, free, fair and informed elections.

Madam President

The second key area in which the United Nations should focus its attention and efforts is in strengthening Timor-Leste’s justice sector. On operational policing, careful planning will need to go into managing the transition from the police working within the stabilisation force to a UN police presence. Close consultation with Timor-Leste’s leaders will be required on the issue of interaction of a future UN policing presence with Timor-Leste’s police force. Australia believes there is a case for appointing a foreign national as police chief. As a longer term goal consideration must be given to structural reform of Timor-Leste’s security forces.

Strong court and prison administrations are an essential part of achieving a functioning justice system, and there is a role for the United Nations in helping achieve both goals. The United Nations should desirably also oversee the prison system, at least in the short-term, to ensure its continued operation irrespective of political developments.

The third area, Madam President, on which the United Nations should focus, is strengthening the machinery of government in Timor-Leste, to ensure the continued delivery of basic services in the short-term and supporting capacity building in the longer-term.

And finally, a particular area of focus, we would suggest, is in assisting the government to help Timor-Leste to identify opportunities to develop economic growth and so generate employment to address the chronic and destabilising levels of unemployment. The UN, its agencies and bilateral friends can all play a part in addressing this particular challenge.

Madam President

Australia, as a long-term and steadfast friend of Timor-Leste would be prepared to contribute to such a mission while playing an on-going role in stabilisation of the security situation.

Thank you.