Dili, 15 May 2002

DONORS PLEDGE US$360 MILLION FOR EAST TIMOR DEVELOPMENT

Five days ahead of East Timor’s independence, donor countries and multilateral agencies today pledged over US$360 million to support the fledgling nation over the next three years.

The support announced at the end of the Donor Conference on East Timor will complement the US$81 million already available through the Trust Fund for East Timor and the UNTAET successor mission, the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

East Timor will now have access to over US$440 million in international support for its three-year budget framework that donors applauded for its emphasis on development.

Much of the two-day conference concentrated on the Government’s National Development Plan, which details a development strategy focusing on poverty reduction and development in the social sectors, with high allocations to health and education.

“Our National Development Plan sets an ambitious path for our development,” Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri said in a statement released today. “Our challenge will be to ensure that we have the persistence to implement it and the flexibility to make changes and improvements as conditions allow.”

The World Bank noted in the statement that the composition of the budget is strongly pro-poor, with 48 percent of the core budget allocated to health and education by 2005. “This is one of the highest allocation to social sectors in the world, and is a concrete reflection of the Government’s commitment to development in those areas,” said Klaus Rohland, World Bank Country Director for East Timor.

Delegates at the conference emphasized the importance of accelerating the Government’s commitment to cost-recovery in the power sector and legislation to foster private sector growth, investment and job-creation, whilst cautioning on the need to maintain strong discipline on expenditures for police and defence.

Representatives of 27 nations, the European Commission and a wide range of multilateral groups attended the meeting co-chaired by the Second Transitional Government of East Timor, the World Bank and UNTAET.

This international event follows meetings in Tokyo (December 1999), Lisbon (June 2000), Brussels (December 2000), Canberra (June 2001) and Oslo (December 2001).

REGIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMISSION MEMBERS SWORN IN

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sergio Vieira de Mello today swore in 29 Regional Commissioners for East Timor’s Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation.

“You have been called to help reconcile the divisions and hurt amongst your people. No task is more… crucial if a society split by terror and politics is to regenerate and become a place where human dignity is respected,” Vieira de Mello said at a ceremony in Dili.

The SRSG and President-elect Xanana Gusmăo urged the Regional Commissioners to be independent and strong as they work to help reconcile the nation’s people, and warned that they might face difficulties and opposition as they undertake the Commission’s work in the districts over the next two years.

Transitional Administrator Vieira de Mello also congratulated the Commission on selecting 10 women as Regional Commissioners, “exceeding the 30 per cent requirement in the Regulation [creating the Commission].”

Under the guidance of the Commission’s seven National Commissioners, the Regional Commissioners will implement the Commission’s inquiries into human rights violations from 1974 to 1999 and community reconciliation processes, working from six regional offices.

Commission chairman and National Commissioner Aniceto Guterres Lopes said although the Commission had undertaken much vital work since its formal beginning on 7 February this year, the swearing in of the Regional Commissioners was a further significant step forward.

Guterres Lopes reminded a large audience at the swearing in ceremony that the Commission existed for all the people of Timor.

“And these Regional Commissioners, drawn from every district across the country, will be responsible over the next two years for helping the National Commissioners bring the work of the Commission to as many parts of the country as possible – working to help all of East Timor find truth, justice and reconciliation.”