E. Timor urges UN to keep peacekeepers

E. Timor urges UN to keep peacekeepers

INDONESIA: East Timor urged the United Nations on Wednesday not to be hasty in withdrawing its peacekeeping forces from the fledgling nation, after the world body said it was considering further cutbacks to the mission.

Nelson Santos, the secretary-general of East Timor's foreign ministry, said the security situation along the country's border with former ruler Indonesia had improved but remained fragile.

"UN peacekeeping is a very good deterrent for any further internal or external instability ... If the remaining troops can remain here until next year, then we will be able to further consolidate our security forces," Santos told Reuters by telephone from Dili.

"For the past six months or more nothing crucial has been happening on the border area, but it needs only a small group to destabilize the whole situation. Therefore it is better for us to exercise caution rather than over-optimism," he said. --Reuters