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Statement issued by Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta
re: security, 27 October 2006
"Achieving lasting peace and security for us Timorese is
the only thing that matters to us all - the President, the National
Parliament, the Government and our people. It is something that
unfortunately has consumed all of us in recent months.
Our search for the optimal solution goes on tirelessly each day.
It was with this in mind that the National Parliament of Timor-Leste
yesterday debated, and adopted a resolution "About the System
of Security in Timor-Leste". I welcome this contribution
of that august body.
The Parliament expressed its preference for a UN peace keeping
force which had been the position of the Government. However it
is also prepared to consider military arrangements under bilateral
and trilateral agreements.
My Government's decision to request Australia and New Zealand
to maintain their contingents in Timor-Leste as green helmets,
is based on the realities of the arrangement having worked to
date, and the additional troops available for deployment, and
the fact that the Government is negotiating a trilateral arrangement
with the UN and Australia, that will include all the necessary
details of engagement to clarify the role, the expectations and
the responsibilities. This would affect the unified and coordinated
command that the National Parliament appears to be seeking.
I communicated this decision to the UN in a letter dated last
October 18, to the Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The decision evolved after consultations with President Xanana
Gusmão, the President of the Parliament Lu-Olo, my Cabinet,
other political actors including Dr Mari Alkatiri, the Secretary-General
of the majority party Fretilin, and the Supreme Council for Defence
and Security.
We took that decision because we believed it is in the best interests
of our Nation to maintain the status quo, as both forces have
been here for a period of time and are now familiar with Timor-Leste
and its people.
The Resolution voted for by the National Parliament believes
that security would be better if the troops were under a unified
command.
It is a fact that the arrangements we proposed to UN Secretary
General provide us with more troops than would be available under
a peace-keeping mission. Under the UN military proposal we would
only have about 350 troops, half of which would correctly be assigned
to protect the UN staff and assets. The other half, 170 or so,
would be deployed to secure the rest of the country as opposed
to 1000 Australian and 110 New Zealand troops already here. This
number will remain until at least December, and beyond if we require
them. The minimum number we will have is a battalion strength
of approximately 650.
Having had discussions with the acting SRSG, Finn Rieske-Nielsen,
acting UNPOL Commissioner Antero Lopes and the command of the
international forces - Brig Gen Slater and Brig Rerden, I am absolutely
confident that they can and will work in total coordination. I
hope this allays any concerns the National Parliament may have
when it passed the resolution.
We were also mindful that the United Nations is very stretched
in these current times. When we have regional neighbours who,
with the imprimatur of the Security Council, are able to provide
the security we require to assist us in our efforts in nation
building, it is both logical and necessary to accept our neighbours'
generosity. We are also in discussion with some other countries
who have indicated their willingness to also deploy some troops
to serve in Timor-Leste."
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