EAST TIMOR POLICE SERVICE ANNIVERSARY

The East Timor Police Service will mark its first anniversary tomorrow, 27 March. The date was chosen because the first 50 East Timorese cadets began their training at the Police College in Dili on 27 March 2000. The program will start with a mass by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo at the Cathedral in the morning, followed by a parade in front of UNTAET’s Administration building with all East Timorese police officers and cadets. SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady, CNRT/NC President Xanana Gusmão and Cabinet Members, among others will attend. The ceremony will celebrate the National Police Day and the promotion of the first 27 Timorese police officers to the provisional rank of Sub-Inspector. Four hundred and fifty East Timorese police officers have graduated and have been deployed throughout the territory of East Timor and 200 cadets are currently undergoing training at the Police College.

DILI AND MAPUTO DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC COOPERATION

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Leonardo Santos Simão and East Timor Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs José Ramos-Horta discussed the possibility of Mozambique’s hosting East Timorese diplomats in their embassies and consulates.This would enable East Timor to start a diplomatic representation faster and at lower costs. Minister Santos Simão left East Timor on Saturday, March 24 after a two-day visit and extensive discussions with several UNTAET and East Timorese high officials, including SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and CNRT/NC President Xanana Gusmão. On March 12, Minister Santos Simão sent a letter to SRSG introducing Geraldo António Chirinza as the future head of the Mission of the Republic of Mozambique in East Timor.