Ending Visit To E. Timor, UN Team Pledges Support

Ending visit to Timor-Leste, Security Council team pledges ongoing UN support

Wrapping up a four-day mission to assess the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste, the Security Council today said the international community will provide ongoing support for the world body's efforts in the tiny nation which only gained independence in 2002.

During their visit, the Council team gained a first-hand view of the challenges the country faces, having met with many people across Timor-Leste.

"We went all over this country and our general impression is that this country is doing very well and the security appears to be very good, but this country still needs a lot of international assistance," South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who headed the Council delegation, said at a press conference today.

"I can assure you that there will be continued international support for the UN on the ground here to do its work, because we are very pleased with the work the UN has done," he added.

In the eastern district of Baucau, the team held talks with local authorities, political party representatives, UN officials and police officers, while in Dili, the national capital, the delegation met with civil society members and local representatives of political parties to gauge the views of the wider community about the work of the UN mission (UNMIT) and other UN entities and what challenges lie ahead.

The delegation also included Ambassador Liu Zhenmin from China, Luc Joseph Okio from the Republic of the Congo, Muhammad Anshor from Indonesia, Diana Eloeva from the Russian Federation, Ambassador Peter Burian from Slovakia and United States Ambassador Jackie Wolcott.

Atul Khare, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, noted that this visit is a manifestation of strong global support for the ongoing work in Timor-Leste and that the country is still a priority for assistance.

As part of his visit to Asia next month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Timor-Leste. He plans to visit UNMIT, meet with Government officials and address the National Parliament and will stop camps for internally displaced persons.

ENDS

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