CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PASSES ARTICLE ON CITIZENSHIP

The Constituent Assembly today passed the fourth article of East Timor’s Constitution after a lengthy debate.

The article states that East Timorese with acquired (as opposed to original) citizenship will not be eligible to serve in the diplomatic corps or military. The article’s second clause states that East Timorese with acquired citizenship serving in other sectors of the public service will be subject to conditions outlined by future legislation.

Fifty-eight members voted in favor of the article, 18 voted against, with four abstentions.

The assembly yesterday approved an article defining an original East Timorese citizen as a person born of an East Timorese parent or parents; or born of unknown parents or a foreign mother or father, as long as they declare the desire to become an East Timorese citizen by the age of 17.

Other articles passed by the assembly thus far relate to the official name of East Timor, sovereignty, and the official date of independence.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES BUDGET RE-ALLOCATION

East Timor’s Council of Ministers late yesterday approved a measure re-allocating US$3.1 million from the current 2001-2002 budget to fund new policy initiatives.

The re-allocated funds stem from under spending in various government sectors, as well as funding initiatives deferred by the former East Timor Transitional Cabinet earlier this year pending the formation of the current Council of Ministers.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Justice Ana Pessoa as Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri, Minister for Foreign Affairs José Ramos-Horta and Minister for Internal Administration Antoninho Bianco are on overseas visits.

Deputy SRSG Dennis McNamara briefed the ministers on his recent visit to the United Nations in New York where he discussed financial issues relating to UNTAET’s downsizing and the transfer of UNTAET assets to the East Timorese government.

Inspector General Mariano José Lopes da Cruz then briefed the ministers on the functions of his office and initiatives it will carry out in the near future.

PORTUGAL AND EAST TIMOR SIGN SPORTS, YOUTH AGREEMENTS

The governments of East Timor and Portugal today signed two agreements by which Portugal will fund a range of sporting and youth projects and activities over the next three years.

The agreements were signed in Dili by Portugal’s Minister for Youth and Sport José Lello and his East Timorese counterpart, Armindo Maia.

Under the agreements, the East Timorese government must present a detailed timetable of activities to be funded. The Portuguese government will then allocate funds as necessary from its annual budget.

Activities envisioned include professional training for athletes, youth poverty and illiteracy eradication programs, human resource training, the purchase of sporting equipment, and the development of sports facilities.