CABINET AGREES TO NGO COUNTRY AGREEMENT FOR EAST TIMOR

The East Timor Transitional Cabinet today gave its agreement, in principle, to a standard interim country agreement which will be the basis for international NGOs to operate in East Timor. The agreement will apply to international NGOs engaged in humanitarian relief, assistance and development work. The National Planning and Development Agency was requested by Cabinet to refine elements of the draft before its finalisation. The Cabinet discussed the development of financial institutions in East Timor. In this regard, it studied elements of a draft regulation to establish a Banking and Payment Authority, which would have more of the powers of a Central Bank than the Central Payments Office currently enjoys. The draft regulation will be further considered by the Cabinet. The Cabinet also discussed guidelines for civil servants wishing to stand as candidates for election to the Constituent Assembly. The full text of the guidelines will be published shortly. Finally, the Cabinet discussed and approved, in principle, proposed amendments to the regulation governing budget and financial management. The amendments will soon be forwarded to the National Council for its consideration.

SRSG SIGNS TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello yesterday signed two regulations designed to enhance road safety. The regulations, which were approved by the East Timor National Council on 29 May, establishes a Regime Governing Road Traffic and a Motor Vehicle Office responsible for registration of motor vehicles, the issuing of vehicle registration cards and license plates. The new regime provides a unified system governing traffic rules, which will support the work of police and traffic wardens. The regime will respond better to the post-conflict environment of East Timor than the current, complex mix of Indonesian laws, which apply under UNTAET Regulation 1999/1. Furthermore, all the Indonesian institutions that supported their traffic laws, such as driver licensing, insurance, vehicle registration, no longer exist.

KOTA THIRD PARTY TO RECEIVE OFFICAL CERTIFICATE

The party Klibur Oan Timor Asuwa’in (KOTA) today received its official political party certificate of registration from the Independent Electoral Commission, becoming the third party to be officially registered with the Commission for the purpose of presenting candidates to the elections for a Constituent Assembly on 30 August. The Commission staff delivered the certificate of registration in person to KOTA’s National Liaison Officer, Augusto Pires.