Friday, 05 May, 2006

I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa for introducing the Secretary-General’s report and updating the Council on the current situation in Timor-Leste. Furthermore, I would like to welcome H.E. the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Timor-Leste, Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta.

Greece aligns herself with the statement to be made shortly by the Permanent Representative of Austria, on behalf of the European Union.

Mr. President,

In the period under review, there were positive developments but also some worrisome setbacks in the overall internal situation in Timor-Leste.  

We are pleased to see the full operation of the Office of the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice as well as the drafting of a National Human Rights Action Plan to be adopted this month. However, dealing with fighting impunity for human rights crimes and abuses committed in 1999 remains an open issue. We, therefore, look forward to the relevant Secretary-General’s report as requested by the Security Council.      

On the other hand, the dismissal of approximately 600 soldiers and the ensuing demonstrations and violent incidents clearly show the fragile security situation and the need to reinforce the capacity of the Timorese defense institutions.  

The mandate of UNOTIL is coming to a successful end on May 20.  In the past twelve months, UNOTIL greatly contributed in providing the Government of Timor-Leste with effective assistance in developing all sectors of state capacity building.

The Secretary-General, in his report, clearly identifies the remaining serious challenges in the fields of Defense, Police, Justice, Human Rights, Public Administration and border control, especially in the light of preparing and holding of next year’s first presidential and parliamentary elections since the country’s independence in 2002.

We acknowledge and appreciate the important contributions made by bilateral donors and various UN specialized agencies, such as the World Bank, UNDP and IMF. We are also pleased to note that the Secretary-General’s report underlines all activities related to the transfer of certain UNOTIL tasks to other international actors on the ground. The question though is whether this kind of arrangement in providing further international assistance is sufficient for the next one-year crucial period.

The President, the Government and the political parties of Timor-Leste have asked for the establishment of a new UN Office. Upon the request of the Security Council, the Secretary-General presented his proposals.    

Greece has carefully examined the Secretary-General’s proposals and believes that they are well structured and tailored, not only to the challenges of organizing and holding Timor-Leste’s first national elections, but also to the need for further strengthening the state institutions and the human resource capacity of the country. The latter is indispensable to the viability of a new democratic state.

Having considered every aspect of the needs in Timor-Leste under the present circumstances, Greece fully supports the establishment of an Integrated United Nations Office along the lines proposed by the Secretary-General. My delegation looks forward to working with the other members of the Council towards achieving consensus.   

In concluding, I wish to express our thanks and deep appreciation to   Mr. Hasegawa and the personnel of UNOTIL for their hard work, dedication, and efficiency in accomplishing the tasks of their mandate. UNOTIL, along with all previous UN Missions, has contributed in making Timor-Leste a success story of the United Nations.

The people of Timor-Leste deserve a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future and they have our full support.

I thank you Mr. President.

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