NEW YORK, 28 FEBRUARY 2005
STATEMENT BY HE Mr. JOÃO SALGUEIRO, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PORTUGAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS, TO THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL (Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission of Support in Timor-Leste)

First of all let me express my Government’s condolences to the Government of Bangladesh for the tragic death of nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the DRC.

Mr. President,

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his latest report on the situation of Timor-Leste and to SRSG Hasegawa for his excellent presentation. I will take this opportunity to praise the dedicated efforts of the civilian, military and police components of UNMISET and congratulate them in their many achievements in Timor-Leste.

I would also like to welcome Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta and to thank him for his valuable contribution to this debate.

Portugal subscribes entirely to the statement made by the representative of Luxembourg on behalf of the European Union. I will only add a few comments of our own.

First we very much welcome the establishment of a Commission of Experts to conduct a thorough assessment of the progress made by the judicial processes involving the ad hoc Human Rights tribunal in Jakarta , the serious Crimes Unit and the Special Panels of Serious Crimes in Dili. We look forward to its recommendations.

We also note with high appraisal the steady and significant developments in the relationship of Timor-Leste with its neighbours, regarding such important issues as land and maritime borders. It is of great importance for Timor-Leste to secure timely access to its natural resources, thus paving the way for its peaceful and economically sustainable development.

Mr. President,

Timor-Leste is in a critical period of its peace-building process and the report of the SG clearly outlines a number of areas that are in need of international assistance beyond the mandate of UNMISET. In the area of police training there is much work still to be done, namely in the management of the border, which remains porous and therefore a source of illegal incursions and illegal trade. Security on the border is a key factor for the political and social stability of Timor-Leste.

We note with concern that land border demarcation is incomplete. This is particularly worrisome because a successor arrangement to the present Military Liaison Arrangement is not yet in place.

The Secretary-General's report sets out that Timor-Leste has made significant advances towards self-sufficiency. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain and continuing international assistance beyond the expiration on UNMISET's current mandate is essential for the mid and long-term security, stability and sustainable development of this country.

That is why Portugal agrees with the recommendations set out by the Secretary General to ensure that, after May 2005, a new structure for the UN presence in Timor-Leste is configured in order to address the existing needs. This would include such components as military liaison officers, police trainers, civilian advisors, human rights officers and a small office to support the work of a SRSG.

Mr. President,

We have gone very far and invested a lot in Timor-Leste since 1999. We need to preserve and consolidate the good results already obtained. Therefore, we are convinced that in order for this UN presence to have the indispensable credibility, it should have a clear mandate of the Council and should be led by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We should pursue, for a further period, a concerted effort to allow Timor-Leste to achieve three interrelated goals: security and stability, institutions and State building and an adequate environment that may lead to sustainable development.

I would like to reiterate that Portugal , both individually and as a member of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), will remain committed to support these goals and the efforts by the United Nations to this effect.

Thank you, Mr. President.