Security Council

5844^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS TIMOR-LESTE MISSION UNTIL 26 FEBRUARY 2009,

 

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1802 (2008)

 

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) for one year, until 26 February 2009, at the current authorized levels and condemned in the strongest possible terms the attacks on the President and Prime-Minister of Timor-Leste on 11 February as an attack on the legitimate institutions of the country.

The Council called on the Government of Timor-Leste to bring to justice those responsible for the 11 February attacks and for the people to remain calm, exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country.

The Council further called upon the Government, assisted by the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste, to continue working on a comprehensive review of the future role and needs of the security sector.  It requested UNMIT, working with partners, to intensify the efforts to assist with further training, mentoring, institutional development, and strengthening of the National Police Force of Timor-Leste (PNTL).

The Council unanimously adopted resolution 1802 (2008), submitted by Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and South Africa, after it had heard recommendations on the Mission by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno and Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nelson Santos, on 21 February (see press release SC/9259).

The meeting started at 10:10 a.m. and was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1802 (2008) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming all its previous resolutions and statements on the situation in Timor-Leste, in particular its resolutions 1599 (2005) of 28 April 2005, 1677 (2006) of 12 May 2006, 1690 (2006) of 20 June 2006, 1703 (2006) of 18 August 2006, 1704 (2006) of 25 August 2006 and 1745 (2007) of 22 February 2007, and S/PRST/2008/5 of 11 February 2008,

“Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 17 January 2008 (S/2008/26) and recalling the report of the Security Council mission to Timor-Leste which took place from 24 to 30 November 2007 (S/2007/711),

“Reaffirming its full commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Timor-Leste and the promotion of long-term stability in the country,

“Welcoming the successful conclusion of the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 and the formation of a democratically elected Government and institutions in Timor-Leste,

“Urging the Government and people of Timor-Leste to continue their efforts to resolve their political challenges, taking note with appreciation the determination of the Government to restore stability and normalcy while reaffirming their commitment to democracy and the rule of law and further taking note with appreciation the commitment of the opposition to support peace and national stability,

“Noting that the political, security, social and humanitarian situation in Timor-Leste remains fragile,

“Reiterating its call on the leadership and other stakeholders in Timor-Leste to pursue peaceful dialogue and to avoid violent means to resolve differences,

“Reaffirming the need for respect for the independence of the judiciary and its responsibility, welcoming the conviction of the leaders of Timor-Leste on the need for justice and their determination to act against impunity, and in this regard acknowledging the serious resources constraints of the judicial system, encouraging the leadership of Timor-Leste to continue efforts to establish accountability for serious criminal offences committed during the 2006 crisis as recommended by the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry,

“Recalling its previous statements on the need to implement fully the ‘Arrangement on the Restoration and Maintenance of Public Security in Timor-Leste and Assistance to the Reform, Restructuring and Rebuilding of PNTL and the Ministry of Interior’, concluded between the Government of Timor-Leste and UNMIT on 1 December 2006, and in this regard, stressing the need for constructive engagement between UNMIT police and PNTL in view of developing the capacity and capability of the national police,

“Expressing its full support for the role of the international security forces in assisting the Government of Timor-Leste and UNMIT, in the restoration and maintenance of law and stability, in response to the requests of the Government of Timor-Leste,

“Recalling 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, paying tribute to Timor-Leste’s bilateral and multilateral partners for their invaluable assistance, particularly with regard to institutional capacity-building and social and economic development, and recognizing the progress being made in the development of many aspects of governance in Timor-Leste,

“Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security and 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel,

“Recognizing the important role that the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste continues to play in promoting peace, stability and development in Timor-Leste, and expressing its appreciation for the efforts of UNMIT and the United Nations Country Team, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG),

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of UNMIT until 26 February 2009 at the current authorized levels;

“2.   Condemns in the strongest possible terms the attacks on the President and Prime-Minister of Timor-Leste on 11 February 2008 and all attempts to destabilize the country, noting that these heinous acts represent an attack on the legitimate institutions of Timor-Leste, and welcomes the swift and constructive reaction by the neighbouring countries;

“3.   Calls on the Government of Timor-Leste to bring to justice those responsible for this heinous act, urge all parties to cooperate actively with the authorities in this regard;

“4.   Calls upon the people of Timor-Leste to remain calm, exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country;

“5.   Urges all parties in Timor-Leste, in particular political leaders, to continue to work together and engage in political dialogue and consolidate peace, democracy, rule of law, sustainable social and economic development and national reconciliation in the country, and expresses its full support for the continued efforts of the SRSG aimed at addressing critical political and security related issues facing the country through inclusive and collaborative processes, including the High-Level Coordination Committee and the Trilateral Coordination Forum;

“6.   Reaffirms the importance of ongoing efforts to reach accountability and justice, and underlines the importance of the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Special Commission of Inquiry report of 2006 by the Government of Timor-Leste;

“7.   Emphasizes the need for sustained support of the international community to Timor-Leste to develop and strengthen its institutions and further build capacities in the justice sector;

“8.   Requests UNMIT to continue its efforts, adjusting them as necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary system, and assist the Government of Timor-Leste in carrying out the proceedings recommended by the Commission of Inquiry;

“9.   Calls upon UNMIT to support the Government of Timor-Leste in its efforts to coordinate donor cooperation in areas of institutional capacity-building;

“10.  Further calls upon the Government of Timor-Leste, assisted by UNMIT, to continue working on a comprehensive review of future role and needs of the security sector, including the Ministry of Interior, PNTL, Ministry of Defence, and F-FDTL; given the sector’s importance to long-term stability, request UNMIT to intensify its efforts in support of the review in close coordination with the Government of Timor-Leste and relevant donors, and welcomes the establishment of a three-tier coordination mechanism established in August 2007 to address the broader challenges in the security sector;

“11.  Requests UNMIT, working with partners, to intensify its efforts to assist with further training, mentoring, institutional development and strengthening of PNTL with a view to enhancing its effectiveness, including with respect to addressing the special needs of women, while continuing to ensure, through the presence of UNMIT police component, the restoration and maintenance of public security in Timor-Leste through the provision of support to PNTL, which includes interim law enforcement and public security until PNTL is reconstituted;

“12.  Welcomes the Secretary-General’s intention to send an expert mission to UNMIT in the first quarter of 2008 to conduct a thorough assessment of the requirements of the national police as well as possible adjustments needed to UNMIT police skill sets; and requests him to inform the Council of the finding of the expert mission;

“13.  Takes note of the establishment of Timor-Leste National Recovery Strategy aimed at addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the country, including the issue of IDPs and promotion of sustainable livelihoods and, in this regard, calls upon UNMIT 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 and relevant institutions and in designing poverty reduction and economic growth policies;

“14.  Requests UNMIT fully to take into account gender considerations as set out in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000)as a cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate, and further requests the Secretary-General to include in his reporting to the Security Council progress on gender mainstreaming throughout UNMIT and all other aspects relating to the situation of women and girls, especially in relation to the need to protect them from gender-based violence, detailing special measures proposed and taken to protect women and girls from such violence;

“15.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in UNMIT with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges those countries contributing troops and police to take appropriate preventive action and to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

“16.  Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly informed of the developments on the ground and on the implementation of this resolution, including, in particular, progress on his Special Representative’s efforts in support for dialogue and reconciliation, and to submit to the Security Council no later than 1 August 2008, a report which includes possible adjustments in UNMIT’s mandate and strength to the Security Council, also requests the Secretary-General in consultation with the Government of Timor-Leste, to develop a medium-term strategy with appropriate benchmarks to measure and track progress, and to submit further reports as and when he considers appropriate;

“17.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record