Security Council hails East Timor presidential election as 'historic milestone'

Paying tribute to the people of East Timor for their commitment to "peaceful co-existence and democracy," the Security Council today welcomed the successful staging of the territory's presidential elections on Sunday.

"These elections represent a historic milestone on East Timor's remarkable journey towards independence," the current President of the Council, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation, said in a press statement.

"The Council now looks forward to celebrating the declaration of independence on 20 May and to welcoming East Timor into the international community of nation states," he added.

The 15-member body also voiced its appreciation to the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and to the Independent Electoral Commission for their roles in facilitating a "smooth and orderly" vote.