Security Council delegation arrives in Timor-Leste

A delegation of the Security Council has arrived in Timor-Leste to examine the work of the United Nations Mission in the country (UNMIT), which gained independence in 2002.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative, Atul Khare, said the visit is “an important expression of the international community's commitment to the nascent nation,” according to an UNMIT news release.

The mission said the visit would underscore the international community's commitment to the stabilization and development of Timor-Leste and the need for ongoing support to bilateral and international partners aiding Timorese efforts towards self-reliance.

Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo (Head of Mission) from South Africa, Ambassador Liu Zhenmin from China, Luc Joseph Okio from the Republic of the Congo, Muhammad Anshor from Indonesia, Diana Eloeva from the Russian Federation, Ambassador Peter Burian from Slovakia and United States Ambassador Jackie Wolcott are expected to hold discussions the Timorese authorities on how to help the country consolidate progress.

“The Security Council is expressing its full support for Timor-Leste and for the United Nations presence here, and we are very grateful for that support,” said Mr. Khare.

“It is an important acknowledgment - by the international community - that there has been success in stabilizing the security situation and that democratic progress has been achieved through peaceful and acceptable elections.”