UNSC okays date of E. Timor's independence

UNSC okays date of E. Timor's independence

Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press, United Nations

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has formally approved a recommendation by East Timor's first elected assembly to declare independence on May 20, 2002 and pledged that the UN will "remain engaged" in the fledgling nation.

The United Nations has been administering the tiny Southeast Asian territory since its people voted overwhelmingly for independence in August 1999, and the Security Council said on Wednesday the world body will maintain a reduced military, police, and civilian presence after independence.

The council gave no figures on the size of the post- independence UN mission and stressed that while members believe a premature withdrawal of the large international presence could be destabilizing, they want to wrap up operations as soon as feasible, hopefully by May 2004.

UN administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello urged the United Nations to ensure that a fledgling independent East Timor has sufficient international support.

Mari Alkatiri, chief minister of East Timor's transitional government, urged the council to provide "the necessary human, material and financial resources that will demonstrate the success of the UN. and the international community."

East Timor was devastated by Indonesian troops and their local militia supporters after the UN-sponsored independence referendum. The world body currently has about 8,000 peacekeepers in the territory.

With just 200 days to independence, de Mello said, many issues still must be resolved between East Timor and neighboring Indonesia. These include cooperation in bringing to justice those responsible for crimes in East Timor, he said.

In addition, he said, the UN. probably will have to organize presidential elections in late March or early April.

Vieira de Mello said the UN plans to reduce the peacekeeping force to about 5,000 and cut the number of international police by about 400 to 1,240 by independence.