DILI CONFERENCE: “TIMORIZATION”
NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED

Participants to an all-day meeting focussing on the political and administrative handover stressed in Dili today that whilst progress had been made in most of the core Government sectors, particular attention should be given to recruitment, intensified capacity building and fiscal sustainability. Concerns over the relation between the political calendar and the administrative handover were also at the center of the discussions, with particular attention given to the need to ensure smooth operation of government services during the political transition. “It is my sincere believe that the support of the international community must, above all, focus on the needs of the people and taking into account the acute necessity to safeguard environment of political tolerance in an atmosphere of tranquility,” stressed CNRT President Xanana Gusmão. At the mid-point between the Brussels and Canberra donors meetings, UNTAET and the World Bank convened this interim meeting gathering donors, East Timor Transitional Administration Cabinet Members, National Council, NGOs and UN Agencies representatives. The participants discussed progress against benchmarks in key sectors to measure achievement of political and socio-economic goals and to ensure that the right institutional environment is in place to foster East Timor’s transition. These benchmarks were endorsed at the December 2000 Brussels meeting, during which participants stressed the importance of integrating political, administrative and socio-economic plans to achieve a smooth transition to independence.

“We need to strengthen our efforts in Timorization and keep capacity building at the very heart of all our work. A strong independent East Timor has to be based on a transparent and efficient administration and must also be the outcome of an electoral process conducted – as I believe it will – in a multi-party, tolerant and non-violent manner,” said SRSG/ Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello. “I very much welcome the resolve of the East Timorese to provide a clear plan that recognized the links between political, social and economic development. Donor coordination in East Timor has taken another leap forward as donor representatives reiterate today their wish to see further integration between multilateral and bilateral programs,” said Klaus Rohland, Country Director for East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. The talks follow on similar meetings in Tokyo (December 1999, Lisbon (June 2000) and Brussels (December 2000) where donors pledged financial support for East Timor. The next donors meeting will be held in Canberra in June 2001.