Security Council

5682^nd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL CONGRATULATES NEW PRESIDENT OF TIMOR-LESTE,

 

TIMORESE PEOPLE FOR STRONG COMMITMENT TO PEACE, DEMOCRACY

 

Presidential Statement Calls on All Parties to Ensure

Free, Fair, Peaceful Environment for 30 June Parliamentary Elections

Congratulating Jose Ramos-Horta on his election as President of Timor-Leste and the Timorese people for demonstrating their strong commitment to peace and democracy, the Security Council pledged today its continued support as the country’s Government and people embarked on another step towards strengthening the foundations of democracy and assumed their rightful place in the community of nations.

In a presidential statement read out by Jackie Wolcott Sanders (United States), its President for May, the Council commended the presidential candidates for the peaceful manner in which they had conducted their campaigns, and the Timorese National Police and the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) Police for providing security during the electoral process, with the support of the international security force.

The Council expressed its appreciation for the central role played by the National Commission on Elections and the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration in preparing and organizing the presidential elections, and for the role played by domestic and international electoral observers.  It encouraged further such support for upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for 30 June, and called on all parties to ensure they took place in a free, fair and peaceful environment.

While expressing its concern over the country’s still fragile and volatile security, political, social and humanitarian situation, the Council emphasized the importance of all parties maintaining a spirit of cooperation and compromise in order to consolidate the progress made in recent years, and enable Timor-Leste to move on to a peaceful and more prosperous future.  The Council called upon the Government to confront the challenges facing the country, underlining that, while the manifestations of those challenges were political and institutional in nature, poverty and its associated deprivations had also contributed to them.

The meeting began at 12:10 p.m. and ended at 12:15 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2007/14 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the announcement of the results of the presidential elections in Timor-Leste, congratulates Jose Ramos-Horta on his election as President and looks forward to working with the new Government to help build a better future for Timor-Leste.

“The Security Council congratulates the Timorese people for demonstrating their strong commitment to peace and democracy, and commends the presidential candidates for the peaceful manner in which they conducted their campaigns.  The Council pledges its continued support for the Government and people of Timor-Leste as they embark on another step aimed at strengthening the foundations of democracy and assume their rightful place in the community of nations.

“The Security Council expresses its concern over the still fragile and volatile security, political, social and humanitarian situation in Timor-Leste.  The Council emphasizes the importance of all parties continuing to work together in a spirit of cooperation and compromise in order to consolidate progress made by Timor-Leste in recent years and to enable the country to move to a peaceful and more prosperous future.

“The Security Council expresses its sincere appreciation for the central role played by the National Commission on Elections and the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration in the preparing and organizing the presidential elections.  It commends the Timorese National Police and the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) Police with the support of the international security force for providing security during the electoral process.

“The Security Council commends the invaluable support provided for the preparations and holding of the elections by UNMIT and regional and international partners.  It also expresses its appreciation for the role played by domestic and international electoral observers, and encourages further such support for the parliamentary elections.

“The Security Council pays tribute to the donor community for the assistance they have provided to Timor-Leste, and encourages the international community as a whole to continue to assist the country as it enters another stage in the process of peace consolidation, reconstruction and recovery.

“The Security Council calls upon the Government of Timor-Leste to continue to confront the challenges facing the country, it underlines that, while the manifestations of the current challenges in Timor-Leste are political and institutional in nature, poverty and its associated deprivations also contributed to these challenges.

“The Security Council calls upon all parties in Timor-Leste to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 30 June 2007 take place in a free, fair and peaceful environment.

“The Security Council expresses its continued support for the work of UNMIT under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Atul Khare, and encourages UNMIT, in accordance with its mandate, to continue to cooperate and coordinate with the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as all relevant partners, to support the Government of Timor-Leste.”

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For information media • not an official record