Dili, 4 May 2000
The National Consultative Council approved today a regulation on the establishment of representative offices of foreign governments to UNTAET which follows very closely all the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations of 1961.
Regulation no. 2000/14 stipulates that the establishment of a representative office requires the mutual consent of the foreign government and UNTAET; defines the functions of the representative offices; and the privileges, rights, and exemptions of the officers.
The regulation has 24 sections, and defines matters such as the use of national flags, or the protection to be given by UNTAET.
Once East Timor is fully independent, the representative offices will become Embassies. However, after a parliament is elected, the expected procedure is the approval of the entire Vienna Convention text.
