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Affirming that there could be no democracy without the rule of law, the top United Nations envoy to Timor-Leste today called for a common strategic vision to overcome challenges to the fledgling nation’s justice sector.

The Security Council today joined Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in condemning the attempt to assassinate Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta during an attack on his residence in the fledgling Asian country’s capital, Dili, this morning.

United Nations Police in Timor-Leste today transferred authority to their national counterparts at three police posts in the capital, Dili.

United Nations police are not only helping to restore security in Timor-Leste, where 37 people were killed and 155,000 others, 15 per cent of the population, displaced nearly two years ago, they are also cracking down on illegal immigration, the sale of drugs and possible human trafficking.

The United Nations will continue to help Timor-Leste in addressing the many challenges it faces, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged today during a visit to the tiny nation that the world body helped shepherd to independence in 2002.

Building strong State institutions, particularly a credible security sector, will be vital if Timor-Leste is to resolve many of the issues that continue to plague the young nation, a visiting senior United Nations official said today.

Despite the tremendous gains achieved by Timor-Leste since achieving independence in 2002, it will continue to need United Nations assistance for some time to address its political, security and economic challenges, according to a Security Council team that visited the country recently.

While Timor-Leste has recovered well from the violent crisis that engulfed it last year, it continues to grapple with a host of challenges including the fate of about 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and widespread poverty, the head of a recent United Nations Security Council mission to the tiny nation said today.

Members of a visiting Security Council delegation today joined senior Government officials in commemorating the anniversary of the Proclamation of the National Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, which the United Nations helped shepherd to self-rule in 2002.

Welcoming the formation of a new Government in Timor-Leste after recent legislative elections, the Security Council today urged the small South-East Asian country’s political groups to resolve any differences or disputes through only peaceful channels.