UN mission reports successful registration of Timorese refugees in Indonesia

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today reported that the electoral registration of East Timorese refugees in Indonesia's West Timor province had been carried out successfully.

"Initial reports are that - though slow - today's exercise took place without incident," UNTAET said in a statement released in Dili.

The registration, which was organized and conducted by Indonesian authorities, included an observer from UNTAET, along with others from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and a number of countries.

On 30 August, East Timorese voters will elect 88 representatives from a dozen political parties to form the Constituent Assembly that will draft East Timor's first constitution.

In other news, the East Timor Transitional Cabinet today approved, in principle, a standard interim country agreement that will be the basis for international non-governmental organizations to operate in the territory, UNTAET said. The agreement will apply to international agencies engaged in humanitarian relief, assistance and development work. The National Planning and Development Agency was requested by the Cabinet to refine elements of the draft before its finalization.