SRSG SIGNS REGULATION ABOLISHING COFFEE EXPORT TAXSRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello late last week promulgated an amended revenue system regulation that among its amendments abolishes the tax on coffee exports.
Coffee exports of more than five kilograms have up until now been subject to a five percent tax. The SRSG signed the regulation on Saturday before departing for the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Hanoi.
“This is an important step in alleviating some of the economic difficulties faced by coffee farmers in East Timor,” the SRSG said, adding that the decision was the result of frequent consultations with people in coffee-growing areas.
Before departing for Hanoi the SRSG also promulgated regulations that create an authority overseeing telecommunications in East Timor and establishes the US dollar as the official currency of East Timor
The Communications Regulatory Authority will regulate and manage the radio frequency spectrum; issue licenses for the use of frequencies; ensure that telecommunication services are provided at reasonable rates; and help facilitate a broadcasting industry in East Timor that is efficient, competitive and responsive to audience needs.
The Official Currency and Legal Tender of East Timor establishes that as of August 20, 2001, all prices for goods and services, all financial records, and all payments must be in US dollars. Any violations of this regulation will be punishable by fines of up to US $5,000 to be levied by the Central Payment Office.
Due to time constraints the National Council had been unable to consider these regulations before it was dissolved on July 15, 2001, but forwarded them to the SRSG on the basis that, if promulgated, they would ultimately be referred to a future Constituent Assembly.
VOTER EXHIBITION AND CHALLENGE PERIOD EXTENDED
The public exhibition period for registered voters to confirm that their names are on the voter’s list for the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections has been extended for two days and will now continue through July 27.
The preliminary lists of voters eligible to take part in the August 30 elections were posted on 16 July in all 65 sub-districts of East Timor. More than 50,000 East Timorese have already visited exhibition and challenge centers. In a statement issued today, the Independent Electoral Commission said it was “pleased that so many people are taking advantage of this opportunity to make sure their names are on the voters list. District Electoral Officers are working throughout East Timor to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to check the list and request inclusion in the list if their name is missing.”
The ongoing exhibition and challenge period is also the first opportunity for the population to find out where they are assigned to vote in the Constituent Assembly elections.
UNTAET DELEGATION MEETS COUNTERPARTS AT ASEAN SUMMIT
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and Cabinet Minister for Foreign Affairs José Ramos- Horta today held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of China, New Zealand, and Belgium at the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi.
Yesterday the delegation from East Timor attended the Opening Ceremony and then a dinner hosted by the Vietnamese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Dy Nien.
The delegation also includes Chief of Staff N. Paranmeswaran, Xanana Gusmão and East Timorese diplomats from the Department of Foreign Affairs of the East Timor Transitional Administration.
Ramos-Horta and Gusmão today issued a statement welcoming the election of Megawati Sukarnoputri to be the new Indonesian President.
“On behalf of the people of East Timor we congratulate President Megawati Sukarnoputri and wish her much success and happiness in her noble task in leading one of the world’s greatest nations,” the statement said.
“Our two countries share a common border and a tragic history. Let’s continue the process of dialogue towards normalizing relations and building the foundations of a solid and long lasting friendship,” the statement added.
This is the second year in a row that the host of the ASEAN annual Ministerial Meeting has invited UNTAET and the East Timorese leadership to attend the forum.
From Hanoi, the SRSG and Ramos-Horta will travel to New York for the United Nations Security Council Open Meeting on East Timor, to be held on 30 July.
AUSTRALIA ASSISTING BUILDING CONSTITUENCY BUILDING
The former National Council building in Dili is currently undergoing renovations and refurbishment in order to house the future East Timor Constituent Assembly.
The Australian government is assisting East Timor to upgrade the building, which will be equipped with an improved sound system and satellite rooms for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Secretariat. The work is being carried by East Timorese and Australian companies, and is expected to be complete by early September. The 88 future members of the Constituent Assembly will be elected on August 30 and are expected to convene on September 15.
TIMORESE FIREFIGHTERS UNDERGO TRAINING COURSE IN DILI
Eight East Timorese Maritime Police officials yesterday began a week-long training course at the Firefighter’s Headquarters in Dili. The training, being conducted by the East Timor Transitional Administration’s Fire and Rescue Service, will take place throughout this week.
In a related Capacity Building area, two East Timorese diplomats will leave for New Zealand on Friday, 27 July, to begin a seven-month English-language Training Program for Officials at Victoria University of Wellington.
These efforts are part of the East Timor Transitional Administration’s “Timorization” of the public administration, which includes the recruitment, selection and placement of East Timorese as civil servants during the transition to independence.
The Office of Civil Service and Public Employment (CISPE), which is in charge of the “Timorization” of the public administration, has thus far recruited 9,226 East Timorese civil servants. This represents more than 90 per cent of the 10,554 post staffing level approved by the National Council in the budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001.