25 October 1999
UN Security Council Authorizes East Timor Administration
(U.S. says international community must help Timorese people) (810) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- The Security Council instructed the United Nations to undertake one of the largest and most costly operations in the organization's history October 25, establishing the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) to exercise all legislative, executive and military authority in the territory. The council unanimously adopted a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to establish UNTAET which will have governance and public administration, humanitarian assistance, and military components. UNTAET will be comprised of more than 1,600 police officers, 9,000 troops and military observers, and hundreds of international civil administrators. U.S. Ambassador Peter Burleigh said that "the international community must help the people of East Timor, first to rebuild their shattered lives, and then to construct the institutions that they will need to become an independent state." In remarks to the Security Council before the vote, Burleigh emphasized the need for continued attention to the East Timorese who are still in refugee camps in West Timor, the need for the UN to work in close consultation with the East Timorese, and a safe, timely effective hand-over from the Australia-led multinational force (INTERFET). The United States looks forward "to working with the UN, the people of East Timor, President Wahid and the Government of Indonesia, and our other partners to help ensure that East Timor's transition to independence is as smooth and successful as possible," Burleigh said. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced after the meeting that he intends to appoint Undersecretary General Sergio Vieira de Mello as his special representative to East Timor to oversee the operation. UNTAET "is an important challenge and (comes) at a crucial stage in the lives of the people of East Timor and we will establish the mission as quickly as we can," Annan said. "We are in touch with governments to try to gather the resources -- human and material -- that we need to implement the mandate," the secretary general said. UN officials expect the operation to cost between $700 and $1,000 million a year. Pending a final budget however, the secretariat will be asking the General Assembly's budget committee to authorize $50 to 200 million to get the operation started until they can work up a full assessment of UNTAET's needs. It is the third major undertaking for the United Nations in 1999: The UN began administering Kosovo after the province was destroyed by ethnic fighting earlier this year and, on October 22, the council authorized a 6,000-person peacekeeping mission for Sierra Leone. According to the resolution UNTAET will provide security and maintain law and order throughout the territory, establish an effective civil administration as well as help in developing civil and social services, coordinate and deliver humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and development assistance, help the East Timorese build their government, and help establish conditions for sustainable development. The council also instructed UNTAET's military force to cooperate closely with INTERFET in order to replace the multinational force as soon as conditions on the ground permit. Under the resolution, UNTAET's initial mandate will last until January 31, 2001. In his written report to the council, Annan said that after the post-election violence, "civil administration in East Timor has collapsed. The judicial system has ceased to function. Indonesia has already transferred the responsibility for law and order to the multinational force. However, as the force cannot fill the vacuum created in civil administration, practical measures must be taken immediately." The secretary general said that UNTAET should have a "robust" mandate to assist and protect East Timorese displaced by the conflict; facilitate the emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction of services and infrastructure destroyed by pro-Indonesian forces after the vote for independence; set up governmental structures to provide public services such as water, sanitation and mail services; help the East Timorese develop a constitution, organize and conduct elections; and set up a judiciary and police force; and promote economic and social development and reconciliation. "The establishment of UNTAET will be a major challenge for the United Nations," Annan said. "Its success will depend on the strong and continuing support and cooperation of the international community." The secretary general is also establishing a trust fund to cover the cost of rehabilitation of essential infrastructures, public services and utilities and the salaries of local civil servants. UN officials said that they are trying to get as many Asian countries as possible to contribute troops, but are most interested in getting participation from countries that can provide engineers, communications experts, and logistical help. The UN has not announced who will be appointed commander of UNTAET's military component. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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