POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE ON COMMON GOALS WITH SRSG

All heads of the East Timorese political parties agreed today in a meeting with the SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello to participate in the civic education campaign UNTAET is conducting with the civil society. This was the second formal meeting the SRSG promoted with all political parties. The first meeting, on 4 May, focused on women’s participation in the political process, the adoption of a code of conduct and the preparation of the pact of national unity. All political parties expressed today their willingness to work towards these four common goals through regular dialogue with the Transitional Administration. “I appeal to all of you to disseminate the principles of tolerance and freedom of expression,” said SRSG Vieira de Mello. “This is the only way the East Timorese people will see the political parties activities as healthy and useful.” The SRSG also stressed that these democratic principles should be incorporated in the political parties electoral platforms. The heads of political parties also agreed on the fundamental importance of increasing the population’s involvement in the political process towards the electoral campaign, to start on 15 July. Elections to a Constituent Assembly will be held on 30 August. Finally, it was agreed to continue this institutionalized dialogue between the political parties and the Transitional Administration. A third meeting is scheduled for 29 May for a more detailed discussion on the ways political parties will participate in the civic education campaign.