UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Open Meeting -The Question of East Timor
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
31 October 2001
Mr President
At the outset allow me to applaud Ireland's skilful handling of the Security Council Presidency this month. As a strong and consistent supporter of East Timor's peaceful transition to a stable, democratic and effective independent state, it is fitting that Ireland is presiding over the Council at this important point in East Timor's transition process.
I thank the Secretary-General's Special Representative for East Timor, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello for his comprehensive briefing on the Secretary-General's report and I extend Australia's continuing thanks to him and to all of the members of UNTAET for their dedication to establishing a solid foundation for the future of East Timor. I also acknowledge with pleasure the presence of Chief Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, and other elected members of the Second East Timor Transitional Government. Their presence here today is vital to an effective and honest appraisal of the progress that has been made in the transition so far, and the priorities and challenges that lie ahead.
Mr President
Today the Security Council has an opportunity to send an unequivocal signal to the people of East Timor and to the international community, of its continuing commitment to a successful transition process in East Timor. It is Australia's firm view that this signal should take the form of a clear endorsement by the Council of the recommendations set out by the Secretary-General in his most recent report on UNTAET.
In his report. which Australia fully endorses. the Secretary-General has set out all of the elements required for an effective, timely and smooth planning process for the remainder of East Timor's transition. He has presented us with a carefully considered, moderate and responsible plan for a phased process of downsizing. This should lead to a stable, democratic state in East Timor, with long-term development needs assisted by UN agencies and other donor assistance.
There is no question that an adequate international military and civilian police presence will be vital to East Timor's successful transition. and Australia supports the Secretary-Generals detailed recommendations for these two components. No less important will be an effective civilian presence.
Australia concurs strongly with the Secretary-General's view that a core component of civilian functions will be vital for a period after independence if the future East Timor administration is to survive, and to function effectively. We acknowledge the extensive work undertaken by UNTAET and other agencies, including UNDP, to thoroughly examine the options available to fund this civilian component, and we have taken close note of the limitations and risks which attach to an over-reliance on voluntary and bilateral funding options. We strongly support the use of assessed funding for the core functions identified by the Secretary-General as essential to the stability and functioning of government. but for which local expertise does not yet exist.
Mr President
It is Australia's unequivocal view that endorsement of the Secretary-General's recommendations is necessarv to enable timely and effective planning for the future United Nations role in East Timor. Unless there is a clear endorsement, we risk unnecessary ambiguity and delays. It would be far preferable for concrete decisions to be taken early to protect the UN's already substantial investment in East Timor. The Council's endorsement of the Secretary-General's recommendations will set out for the United Nations the resources that will be available for its use in the post-independence period. It will also confirm the needs that must be met by other players. This will create the best possible chance for a smooth and seamless transition to the post-independence period. Moreover, in East Timor, the Security Council has an opportunity to give the United Nations the time it needs to plan effectively for the transition process. It must not let this opportunity pass by.
None of us want to see an open-ended UN presence in East Timor. Nevertheless, as the Council itself has said recently, there must be no exit without strategy. Accordingly the Council has a responsibility to ensure that the prospect of a successful transition is not jeopardised by a precipitate downsizing of the UN presence in any of the core areas outlined by the Secretary-General, or by inadequate resources and unreliable funding for a post-independence UN mission.
Through continued careful management, and by taking the right decisions at the right time, the Security Council has the capacity to ensure the successful completion of the UN's mandate in East Timor, and the establishment of the sort of political and security environment we have all worked so hard to achieve.