UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission of Support in Timor-Leste
New York 10 May 2004
Mr President
Australia welcomes the Security Council�€™s readiness to adopt a resolution extending the UNMISET mandate for another year through to May 2005. In doing so, Australia congratulates the Secretary-General and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for their excellent work in developing the follow-on UNMISET mission.
No one would dispute the fact that Timor Leste has made remarkable progress in its first few years as an independent nation. That success is of course primarily due to the commitment and efforts of the people of Timor Leste. Nevertheless, UNMISET has played an important supporting role. This contribution is testament not only to UNMISET personnel, but also to the continued attention of the Security Council, the efforts of the United Nations Secretariat, and the contributions of a number of UN member States.
In that context, the follow-on mission is a highly appropriate response to Timor Leste�€™s ongoing needs. The mission will help Timor Leste consolidate the many gains that have been made, and will address those gaps in capacity that are still evident. In particular, the mission will continue to provide solid support to Timor Leste�€™s fledgling public administration, judicial and security institutions �€“ institutions critical to Timor Leste�€™s future.
Mr President
Australia is particularly pleased with the shape of the security sector support with both a small peacekeeping force and a 125 member international response unit to provide back-up support to Timor Leste�€™s security forces in emergency situations. This arrangement will provide a strong and stable security platform for Timor Leste in the year ahead .
Mr President
We are pleased to reiterate to the Council, and to Timor Leste, that Australia will continue to provide strong support to UNMISET, including through the contribution of personnel to the peacekeeping, military liaison officer and police adviser contingents.
Australia will also continue to be a major provider of bilateral development assistance to Timor Leste. Currently, Australia is fulfilling the final year of its four year $150 million development pledge. Further generous assistance for coming years will shortly be announced. Consistent with our commitment to assist Timor Leste to develop strong and effective institutions, Australia, with assistance from the United Kingdom, will be providing a 4 and a half year, $40 million program of assistance to develop the capacity of Timor Leste�€™s police force and justice sector. Australia�€™s significant Defence cooperation program will also continue.
Mr President
A number of delegations, and especially Minister Ana Pessoa have referred to the importance of maritime delimitation negotiations between Timor Leste and both Australia and Indonesia. I need hardly say that we too recognise the importance of these talks . In this context I want to remind the Council that we have already negotiated valid and generous interim arrangements. I was pleased to note Minister Ana Pessoa�€™s expression of confidence in Australia as a negotiating partner.
May I conclude by restating to the Council that Australia is committed to supporting and work closely with UNMISET for the term of its renewed mandate. Australia wishes the follow-on mission every success, and will actively contribute to that success.