| |
H.E. Mr. Koichi Haraguchi
Permanent Representative of Japan
At the Meeting of the Security Council on the Situation in Timor-Leste
15 October 2003
Mr. President,
I would like to thank you for convening this open meeting. I also thank Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his comprehensive briefing.
Mr. President,
The Government of Japan is pleased to note that much has been achieved in the areas of public administration, serious crimes, internal security and Timor-Leste's relationship with Indonesia, including progress in border control issues. I am also pleased to note in checking the UNMISET budget that it has implemented its work in a very cost-effective manner.
The report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)(S/2003/944), however, states that serious challenges still remain in such areas as public administration, the judiciary, policing and national security. It is the firm intention of my Government to continue to support the effort by UNMISET to consolidate what has been achieved so far on as solid a base as possible within the short period remaining until the end of the mandate of UNMISET. We also share the view of the report of the Secretary-General, which states that support from the international community will continue to be required even after the expiration of the UNMISET mandate. We simply cannot accept a situation in which the fruits of the activities of UNMISET might be left unheeded and as a result Timor-Leste could once again return to its prior state of confusion and disorder after the expiration of the UNMISET mandate.
We hope that the Secretary-General will provide us detailed proposals for the post-UNMISET stage as early and in as specific a form as possible. Japan also will seriously consider what will be the most appropriate support for Timor-Leste, while listening to the views of the Government of Timor-Leste, the United Nations and other countries which have been supportive of Timor-Leste. The consolidation and building of peace are big challenges faced by the international community. It is crucially important for the United Nations and the international community to make certain that those valuable, incipient achievements such as peace, rule of law, respect for human rights and development take root and are long-lasting. Japan will, without hesitation, provide appropriate support for peace-building as well as consolidation of peace, and for enhancement of human security in Timor-Leste. We also call upon the international community to continue to extend its valuable support to this young republic.
Mr. President,
In support of building a self-sustainable Timor-Leste, Japan has pledged and has been steadily implementing assistance of up to $60 million over the period of three years following its independence, with the focus on peace-building as well as on reconstruction in three key areas: agriculture, infrastructure and human resources development. We are pleased to learn that the roads and bridges which the Engineer Group of our Self-Defense Forces has constructed and repaired for the activities of the UNMISET also benefit the people of Timor-Leste as well. We believe such support is in line with the needs of Timor-Leste as described in the report of the Secretary-General.
Mr. President,
I wish to reiterate how important it is for the leaders of Timor-Leste to be united in governing their country, for the people of Timor-Leste to participate in the nation-building efforts as a matter of their own responsibility and for the international community to continue to extend its support.
Thank you, Mr. President. |
