FIRST FORMAL MEETING OF EAST TIMOR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

The East Timor Council of Ministers of the Second Transitional Government today held its first formal meeting, exceptionally attended by the SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The SRSG, who formerly chaired the meetings of the East Timor Transitional Cabinet, was invited by the Chief Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Marí Alkatiri to address the body. In his speech, the SRSG reiterated his support for the new Government.

"I am very pleased because this Council of Minister represents, in a concrete way, the dream of freedom for which so many Timorese fought and died," he said, adding that the process is within United Nations plans to grant the people of East Timor gradual self-Governance before independence.

De Mello referred to the "innovative relationship" between UNTAET and the Council of Ministers. "We are about to initiate something that has never been done before: an administration that is still the United Nations, but in which the executive power is in the hands of an East Timorese Government with democratic legitimacy. This phase is perhaps the most demanding one so far."

In today's session, Marí Alkatiri briefed Council members on a range of economic issues. Members also heard the Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Ramos-Horta, who spoke about East Timor's foreign policy in general and its relationship with foreign countries, in particular Indonesia.

Members finally received a briefing by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers on the Council's manual and other administrative issues.

The Second Transitional Government and its Council of Ministers will govern East Timor during the remaining transitional period before its independence as a democratic and sovereign state, which is expected early next year.

This Transitional Government has its powers reinforced, formulating policies and supervising a newly formed Public Administration. According to the Regulation establishing the Government, the Transitional Administrator, who has legislative and ultimate executive authority over the body, shall be regularly consulted by the Council of Ministers.

The Council will hold regular meetings every Tuesday morning.