Security Council

Statement by Frances Lisson Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Australia to the United Nations
(Check against delivery)

23-01-06

Mr President

Thank you for this opportunity to address the Security Council. I wish to begin by expressing our thanks to the Secretary-General for his progress report on UNOTIL, and to the Special Representative for Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, for his work leading the UN Mission.

Australia welcomes the contribution of the UN mission in Timor-Leste to establishing effective democratic governance, as outlined in the report, and congratulates Timor-Leste on the remarkable progress made since 1999. As you know, Australia has been at the forefront of international efforts to support Timor-Leste’s transition to an independent and secure State. We have contributed to all UN missions in Timor-Leste – INTERFET, UNTAET, UNMISET and are currently contributing three military liaison officers and four civilian police advisers to UNOTIL. Australia has also provided over US$330 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Timor-Leste since 1999.

Over the past six years, the United Nations has played a critical role in the transition to a democratic and peaceful Timor-Leste. The UN, and the broader international community, should be congratulated for their contribution to Timor-Leste’s success. However, the important work of the UN should not overshadow the indispensable efforts of Timor-Leste’s people and their government to create a new nation, and the positive spirit in which both Indonesia and Timor-Leste have set about developing productive bilateral relations. In particular we commend the efforts of the Governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia for their cooperative approach to border management issues, notably the progress in the demarcation of almost all of their mutual border and the commitment by both countries to resolving the border incidents that were noted in the Secretary-General’s Report. We encourage Timor-Leste and Indonesia to continue to work together to improve their border management arrangements.

Mr President,

Clearly the situation in Timor-Leste, through its own efforts and those of its neighbours and the international community, is in transition from the challenge of post-crisis management to one where the priority is longer term development. The 20th of May this year marks the end of the mission established by the Security Council in resolution 1599, and UNOTIL must continue to focus on preparing for the end of its mandate. More than ever, the UN needs to consider what UNOTIL will leave behind in terms of solid and sustainable indigenous capacity in civil administration, policing, law and justice and defence.

There is clearly more to be done to assist Timor-Leste after the end of UNOTIL’s mandate. Timor-Leste will require ongoing support, particularly in capacity building and poverty alleviation. The international community has made a considerable investment in Timor-Leste’s success and continuing challenges must be addressed by its development partners if Timor-Leste is to remain a successful example of the international community’s involvement in peace-keeping and peace-building.

Australia has been, and will remain, one of the largest bilateral donors in Timor-Leste. Our bilateral aid program is estimated at over US$30 million in 2005-06 and includes substantial capacity building in the areas of economic governance, police and justice -for example through a 4 ½ year, US$23 million, Police Development Program in partnership with the UK Government. Australia also maintains a significant US$6 million per annum Defence Cooperation Program with Timor-Leste.

The move from the short-term adviser placements currently supporting Timor-Leste’s government to long term institutional strengthening supported by conventional bilateral and multilateral agencies will be a challenge. Australia is planning to provide ongoing support to the World Bank and to the specialised UN development agencies in priority areas, including law and justice, and political and economic governance, together with a US$50 million commitment over ten years to help build public sector capacity in Timor-Leste.

We encourage Timor-Leste’s many other international supporters to maintain their bilateral assistance after UNOTIL’s mandate ends to help meet these needs and to ensure a smooth transition to a sustainable development framework.

The Secretary-General’s report highlights the 2007 elections in Timor-Leste. UN support, including appropriate technical assistance, for these elections will be important, as will support from the international community to Timor-Leste through electoral capacity building, voter education and monitoring assistance.

Finally I should also note here a milestone in Australia’s bilateral relations with Timor-Leste that occurred on 12 January when our two countries signed a treaty on maritime arrangements in the Timor Sea. The treaty will raise Timor-Leste’s share of upstream revenues from the Greater Sunrise gas field from 18 per cent to 50 per cent, and could lead to Timor-Leste receiving additional revenue of up to US$4 billion over the life of the project.

Mr President,

Much has been achieved in Timor-Leste in a short time, which is a credit to the people of Timor-Leste, the United Nations and the international community. We must all remain committed to supporting Timor-Leste in its transition to secure and self-reliant statehood. Australia, for its part, can be relied upon to contribute to these efforts.