SRSG AND CHIEF MINISTER ALKATIRI BRIEF UN SECURITY COUNCIL

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello yesterday briefed the United Nations Security Council on the Secretary-General's plan for a United Nations post-independence presence in East Timor, pointing out that the proposed date was exactly 200 days away.

The successor mission to UNTAET, Vieira de Mello said, would focus on the security of the new nation. Upon independence, internal security will continue to be the primary responsibility of the international civilian police, with increasing involvement of the national police service. Meanwhile, the military component should number some 5,000 personnel, down 44 per cent from current strength, in order to ensure effective border security pending the development of East Timor's own defence force.

Vieira de Mello also warned that as Timorese take greater control over their governance, any precipitous reduction in government services should be avoided, and a minimum degree of support will be needed to ensure that the new government does not falter. Despite progress toward independence, he stressed, the "job we have all set out to do is not yet done."

Chief Minister of the Second Transitional Government of East Timor Marí Alkatiri announced to the Council that East Timor's Constituent Assembly had agreed to recommend 20 May 2002 as the date of independence.

Stressing the importance of institution-building and the gradual transfer of administrative functions to East Timorese civil servants, Alkatiri requested the Security Council to provide the necessary human, material and financial resources that would demonstrate the success of the United Nations and the international community. That success should translate into the entrenchment of the democratic State, with all the requisite and functional institutions to ensure the rule of law.

The Chief Minister said that East Timor's financial resources are currently inadequate to cover the cost of contracting experts to assist in critical areas. The use of the limited financial resources of the Trust Fund of East Timor and the Consolidated Fund for East Timor would be to the detriment of education, health and other reconstruction and development sectors. The recurrent budget of US$65 million remains to be funded, and donors will be required to meet the financing gap in order for the Second Transitional Government to carry out its functions and programmes.

EAST TIMORESE DIPLOMATS TO LEAVE FOR TRAINING IN USA

Nine East Timorese diplomats are scheduled to leave this Saturday for a five-week diplomatic training program in the United States.

The course at Washington D.C's Georgetown University focuses on democracy and foreign policy and includes visits to foreign embassies and the US Congress and field trips to Louisiana, California and New York.

Organized by the Asia Foundation and Georgetown University, the training is funded by the United States State Department.

Seven other East Timorese diplomats are currently taking part in an internship offered by Portugal in its foreign missions and embassies in Washington DC, London, Brussels, Tokyo, Bangkok, Canberra, and New York UN missions.