independence

East Timor: Assembly sets first presidential elections for early April

28 November 2001
The Constituent Assembly of East Timor today approved a motion recommending that the territory’s first presidential election be held in early April 2002, and affirmed that the formal transfer of powers and sovereignty from the United Nations to democratically elected East Timorese institutions would take place a month later, on 20 May.

UN peacekeeping force in East Timor begins downsizing process

14 November 2001
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today began the gradual reduction of its peacekeeping component with a ceremony to mark the imminent departure of the 264-strong Kenyan contingent.

UN slated to start downsizing East Timor peacekeeping force next week

9 November 2001
The gradual downsizing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor is scheduled to start next week as the territory heads towards its independence in early 2002, the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAET) said today.