Dili, 29 November 2001

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT DISTRIBUTES DRAFT TEXT

Constituent Assembly President Francisco "Lú-Olo" Guterres today distributed draft copies of East Timor's first Constitution to each of the assembly's 88-members for consideration and eventual debate.

The 12 political parties represented in the assembly then held internal meetings to go over the draft and discuss its 151 articles. Plenary debate on the Constitution is expected to begin either tomorrow, 29 November, or next Monday.

At a press conference held today, Guterres said that he was confident that the draft text reflects the aspirations of the people of East Timor.

The assembly's Committee on Systemization and Harmonization completed its draft of the Constitution on Tuesday after molding sections prepared by the assembly's four thematic groups into one single cohesive text.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HOLDS SESSION IN LIQUIÇA DISTRICT

East Timor's Council of Ministers today held an "open meeting" in Liquiça district with some 500 community residents and 150 students.

This was the second "open meeting" that the Council has held outside Dili as part of its plan to decentralize its activities and consult directly with local communities. The first such meeting was held in Baucau district on 16 November.

The main issues discussed at today's meeting included the need to improve local production of agricultural products and facilitate their sale in the nearby capital; the need to improve the area's infrastructure; and means to provide better access to educational facilities for district residents.

Minister of Agriculture Estanislau Aleixo da Silva presented local fishermen with a range of Chinese-donated nets, outboard engines and other fishing supplies, while an official from East Timor's Central Payments Office explained East Timor's ongoing "dollarization" campaign.

A representative from the East Timor Defence Force launched an appeal for young men and women to apply to become recruits for the ETDF's new battalion which will begin basic training early next year.

This was second "open meeting" the Council of Ministers have held since they were appointed by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello on 20 September.