SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE FOR SIX MONTHS, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1543 (2004)

Security Council                                           

4968^th Meeting (PM)                                         

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE FOR SIX MONTHS,

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1543 (2004)

Remaining fully committed to the promotion of security and long-lasting stability in Timor-Leste, the Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the Mission there for a period of six months, with a view to subsequently extending it further for a final period of six months, until 20 May 2005.

By its unanimous adoption of resolution 1543 (2004), the Council also decided to reduce the size of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) and revise its tasks, in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary-General in Section III of his report of 29 April.  (For a summary of the report, S/2004/333, and of the Council’s recent debate, see Press Release SC/8088 of 10 May).

Accordingly, the Council decided that the Mission’s mandate should consist of the following elements, as outlined in the Secretary-General’s report:  support for the public administration and justice system of Timor-Leste and for justice in the area of serious crimes; support for the development of law enforcement in Timor-Leste; and support for the security and stability of Timor-Leste.

In a related provision, the Council decided that UNMISET would include up to 58 civilian advisers, 157 civilian police advisers, 42 military liaison officers, 310 formed troops and a 125-person International Response Unit.

It further decided that internationally accepted human rights principles should continue to form an integral part of the training and capacity-building carried out by UNMISET under the tasks defined above.

Also, the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a report within three months and every three months thereafter, with recommendations for any modifications progress towards achievement of the Mission’s key tasks might allow to the size, composition and tasks of UNMISET, with a view to completing its mandate by 20 May 2005.

The Council also urged the donor community, as well as the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations and multilateral financial institutions to continue to provide essential resources and assistance to implement projects towards sustainable and long-term development in Timor-Leste.

Following action on the text, drafted by Brazil and Angola, Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg of Brazil said he was glad that the United Nations, through the Security Council, could provide an adequate answer to the request of the Timorese authorities.  The resolution was a clear commitment of the international community to peace and security in the country, which was only two years old.  He praised the people and authorities for their tremendous achievements in so short a period of time, and the international community for their support for the building of that new nation.  The continued presence of the United Nations would be of utmost importance to Timor-Leste’s development.

The meeting began at 12:46 p.m. and adjourned at 12:52 p.m.

Council Resolution

Following is the full text of resolution 1543 (2004):

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the situation in Timor-Leste, in particular resolutions 1410 (2002) of 17 May 2002, 1473 (2003) of 4 April 2003 and 1480 (2003) of 19 May 2003,

“Commending the progress achieved by the people and Government of Timor-Leste, with the assistance of the international community, towards developing, in so short a time, the nation’s infrastructure, public administration, law enforcement and defence capacities,

“Commending also the work of the United Nations Mission of Support in Timor-Leste (UNMISET), under the leadership of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, and welcoming the progress made towards the accomplishment of key tasks inscribed in its mandate, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1410 (2002), 1473 (2003) and 1480 (2003),

“Expressing its appreciation to those Member States providing troops, civilian police personnel and support elements to UNMISET,

“Having considered the statement of 20 February 2004 by the Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste to the Security Council, requesting a one-year extension of UNMISET,

“Taking note of the special report of the Secretary-General on UNMISET of
13 February 2004 (S/2004/117) as well as his report of 29 April 2004 (S/2004/333),

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend UNMISET for a further, one-year consolidation phase, to allow key tasks to be performed and to sustain, strengthen and build upon the gains made to date, thereby permitting Timor-Leste to attain self-sufficiency,

“Noting also that the emerging institutions in Timor-Leste are still in the process of consolidation and that further assistance is required to ensure sustained development and strengthening of key sectors, mainly justice, the public administration, including the National Police, and the maintenance of security and stability in Timor-Leste,

“Encouraging the Government of Timor-Leste to adopt, as soon as possible, legislation and other appropriate measures referred to in paragraph 69 of the Secretary-General’s report of 29 April 2004, and further outlined as Timor-Leste action required in annexes 1, 2 and 3 of the same report,

“Welcoming the excellent communication and goodwill that have characterized relations between Timor-Leste and Indonesia and encouraging continued cooperation between both Governments and cooperation with UNMISET towards further progress in resolving pending bilateral issues, including those relating to the demarcation and management of the border and to the provision of justice for those responsible for serious crimes committed in 1999,

“Remaining fully committed to the promotion of security and long-lasting stability in Timor-Leste,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of UNMISET for a period of 6 months, with a view to subsequently extending the mandate for a further and final period of 6 months, until 20 May 2005;

“2.   Decides also to reduce the size of UNMISET and revise its tasks, in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary-General in Section III of his report of 29 April 2004;

“3.   Decides accordingly that the mandate of UNMISET shall consist of the following elements, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General of 29 April 2004:

“(i)   support for the public administration and justice system of Timor-Leste and for justice in the area of serious crimes;

“(ii)  support to the development of law enforcement in Timor-Leste;

“(iii) support for the security and stability of Timor-Leste;

“4.   Decides that UNMISET will include up to 58 civilian advisers,
157 civilian police advisers, 42 military liaison officers, 310 formed troops and a 125-person International Response Unit;

“5.   Decides that internationally accepted human rights principles shall continue to form an integral part of training and capacity-building carried out by UNMISET under paragraph 3 above;

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council closely and regularly informed of developments on the ground and of the implementation of the present resolution, in particular with regard to progress towards achievement of key tasks of UNMISET’s mandate, and in that regard, requests the Secretary-General to submit a report within three months of the date of adoption of the present resolution and every three months thereafter, with recommendations for any modifications such progress might allow to size, composition and tasks of UNMISET, with a view to completing its mandate by 20 May 2005;

“7.   Requests the Secretary-General to include in his reporting requested under OP6 above, recommendations on tasks and configuration of police and military components for Security Council review in November 2004;

“8.   Reaffirms the need to fight against impunity and the importance for the international community to lend its support in this regard and emphasizes that the Serious Crime Unit should complete all investigations by November 2004, and should conclude trials and other activities as soon as possible and no later than 20 May 2005;

“9.   Underlines that further United Nations assistance to Timor-Leste should be coordinated with the efforts of bilateral and multilateral donors, regional mechanisms, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities and other actors from within the international community;

“10.  Urges the donor community as well as the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and multilateral financial institutions to continue providing essential resources and assistance for the implementation of projects towards sustainable and long-term development in Timor-Leste;

“11.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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