22 February 2001 -- The National Council of East Timor today approved recommendations on the territory's transition to independence, calling for elections of a Constituent Assembly - the precursor to a parliament - to be held on 30 August and for a constitution to be proclaimed by 15 December, according to the United Nations mission there.

In a statement issued in Dili, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said the Council's recommendations called for elections to an 88-member Constituent Assembly, which would later be transformed into a national parliament.

The Council stated, however, that more discussion was needed regarding the exact dates before the proposal is sent to the Transitional Administration for approval.

The recommendations follow months of consultation and five days of public hearings in which the testimonies of 22 people - representing a wide range of interests and views in the society - were heard.

The National Council will discuss final dates before submitting them for approval by UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello, the statement said.

In other news, Mr. Vieira de Mello arrived today in Jakarta for a two-day visit, during which he will have a series of meetings with senior Indonesian officials.

At the talks in Jakarta, the UNTAET chief is accompanied for the first time by a Timorese official, José Ramos-Horta, member of the Timorese Cabinet in charge of Foreign Relations.

Mr. Ramos-Horta's presence reflects the "Timorization of the Transitional Administration," the UN mission said.

 

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Not an official document of the United Nations. Maintained by the Peace and Security Section of the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (c) United Nations 2001