East Timor establishes new "National Council": UN
13 July -- Following yesterday's groundbreaking approval of a transitional cabinet for East Timor, the territory's main decision-making body today approved the establishment of a "National Council" consisting of representatives from political, religious and private sectors, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) announced in Dili.
The current 15-member National Consultative Council will be dissolved at the first session of the new Council, which will consist of 33 East Timorese members. The head of UNTAET, Sergio Vieira de Mello, will have "the final say" in the approval of any draft regulation proposed to the cabinet by the National Council, UNTAET said.
