Dili, 4 April 2000
Following a nineteen-day recess, the National Consultative Council of East Timor (NCC) held today an information meeting in Dili. In an effort to reach a wider constituency the NCC invited six representatives of Timorese NGOs and Falintil to attend the meeting.
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Head of UNTAET Political Affairs Division, Peter Galbraith, briefed the NCC members on their talks with Indonesia Government officials. It was followed by substantive exchange of views on Indonesian/Timorese concerns among the NCC members and others attending the meeting.
The NCC members displayed an interest in greater educational cooperation. They stressed the importance of East Timorese students continuing their education in Indonesia, a promise made by President Wahid.
Mr. De Mello also reported on the meeting he had with Domingos Soares, the head of UNTAS, a pro-integration umbrella group based in West Timor. The SRSG stressed that national reconciliation was a matter to be decided upon by the East Timorese themselves. He added that UNTAET s good offices were at the disposal of the parties to assist in facilitating this process.
SRSG Vieira de Mello also announced that he is going to consider the establishment, on a provisional basis, of District Advisory Councils. The Council is an advisory body set up for the purpose of representing the concerns of the population and of providing advice to the District Administrator in each District.
Mr. De Mello indicated that steps are being taken to engage East Timorese nationals as deputies to UNTAET s departments and as Deputy District Administrators. UNTAET will be giving East Timorese positions of greater responsibility and control, with the purpose of establishing an East Timorese National Administration.
Members of the Council highlighted the necessity that, in performance of their duties, the East Timorese Deputies should act and behave independently. Mr. De Mello emphasized that the selection of these deputies will be channeled through the Civil Service Commission that has the mandate to establish an independent Timorese Civil Service.
The representative of the World Bank, Sarah Cliffe, briefed the participants on a workshop on the budget preparation process that is scheduled for April 18th.
The next meeting of the NCC will be held on May the 4th.
