UN work on track in East Timor, Security Council President says

East Timor and the United Nations mission in the country have made substantial progress since that nation's independence three months ago, the President of the Security Council said today.

Ambassador John Negroponte of the United States told reporters that during its private meeting this morning, the Council had been briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hédi Annabi on the latest developments in East Timor and the work of the UN Mission of Support (UNMISET).

According to Mr. Annabi, UNMISET's mandate implementation programme was on track and East Timor had taken steps towards establishing itself in the international community, including by joining the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ambassador Negroponte said. He added that Council members praised the Government and the UN operation for their successful cooperation during the first months of the Mission.

In addition, the East Timor Defence Force was taking over operational responsibilities from UN peacekeepers as planned, and the country's civilian police units were replacing UN police in a timely fashion, Ambassador Negroponte said.

Mr. Annabi also explained that work could be moving a bit faster in the justice sector and in filling appointments of civilian experts to support the government, but that the United Nations and the Timorese authorities were working to keep things on track, Ambassador Negroponte said.

Council members recognized that capacity building amongst the East Timorese was extremely important he said, adding that another important work in progress was border normalization, with full delineation of borders due for completion by the summer of 2003.

"I'm sure I can speak for all of my Security Council colleagues in saying that we all look forward with great pleasure to welcoming East Timor as a full member of the United Nations in September," Ambassador Negroponte said.