UN expected to extend E. Timor mandate<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (AP): The United Nations was expected to again extend
\nthe mandate of its administration in East Timor to well after
\nindependence officials said on Friday, after major aid donors
\nendorsed the proposal.<\/p>\n
The mandate of the United Nations Transitional Administration
\nin East Timor (UNTAET) ends Jan. 31, next year.<\/p>\n
However, UNTAET head Sergio Vieira de Mello said on Friday
\nthat the fledgling nation was still far from ready for
\nindependence without UN support.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the fourth Donor's Meeting on East Timor, De
\nMello said the 29 governments, and 18 aid agencies attending the
\nconference supported a continuing presence.<\/p>\n
East Timor's defense and police forces were not ready to stand
\non their own and a range of civil services such as health were
\nstill far from ready.<\/p>\n
"I think we are all confident the mandate will be extended,"
\nde Mello said.<\/p>\n
"There will be a presence, the question is what will be its
\nconfiguration and size, its strength, civilian, police, military,
\nthat is what is at stake now," he said.<\/p>\n
"Both in military and police terms the United Nations must
\nremain engaged, there is unfinished business, therefore I
\npresume, but I can only presume, the U.N. Security Council will
\nhave no difficulty in authorizing the continued presence of those
\ntwo components," he said.<\/p>\n
De Mello said it was impossible to outline a timetable for
\nwinding down his administration.<\/p>\n
However, preparations for democratic elections were on track
\nto elect a Constituent Assembly on Aug. 30. The Assembly will
\nwrite and adopt a constitution for an independent East Timor,
\nexpected by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
UNTAET commands around 8,000 peacekeepers, 150 military
\nobservers, 1,450 UN civilian police and 777 East Timorese
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
Its civilian work force comprises 1,000 international staff,
\n2,000 nationals and 800 UN volunteers.<\/p>\n
De Mello and World Bank Vice president for East Asia and the
\nPacific, Jemal-ud-din Kassum who co-chaired the conference said
\ndonors had endorsed the $65 million budget to run the new
\ngovernment in fiscal year 2001-02, despite a $20 million deficit.<\/p>\n
Total aid spending from the donors in 2001-02 would be about
\n$304 million - most of it to be spent rebuilding the state, which
\nwas devastated by violence that broke out after the province's
\nAugust 1999 vote for independence from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Militias backed by Indonesian police and military forces were
\nresponsible for the violence.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-expected-to-extend-e-timor-mandate-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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