Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

2001 Statement

H.E. Mr. Hideaki Kobayashi

Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

At the Security Council Meeting on the Situation in East Timor

26 January 2001

Mr. President,

Before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity to express our condolences to the people of India and Pakistan for their terrible loss caused by the earthquake yesterday.

I would like to express my appreciation to you Mr. President for this opportunity to discuss the situation in East Timor as the mandate of UNTAET is about to be renewed.

I would also like to thank Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello for shedding light on the important progress that has been made and on the challenges that remain on the ground. We wish to extend our warmest welcome to Mr. Ramos-Horta who has come to present to us the views of the East Timorese people, which the international community must always respect and heed as it supports their nation-building efforts. We look forward to welcoming him in Japan in March.

We also commend Mr. Holkeri, President of the General Assembly, for his participation in today's discussion following his recent visit to the region.

We thank the UNDP, the World Bank and the IMF for presenting their views. Their participation in today's discussion illustrates the multifaceted nature of the activities of UNTAET, which encompass not only military and police activities but also a wide range of nation-building activities.

Mr. President,

Since the inception of UNTAET in October 1999, efforts to prepare for the independence of East Timor have made substantial progress under the competent and resourceful leadership of Mr. de Mello, the dedication of the UN staff, and the constant support of the international community, including non-government organizations, all working hand in hand with the people of East Timor. My delegation is pleased to know that, as a result of these efforts, the goal of independence is now within sight. Although considerable work still needs be done, my delegation is confident that with the commitment and integrity demonstrated by those concerned, that goal will be achieved smoothly and successfully. Japan, for its part, remains fully committed to assisting the process to the best of its ability.

Mr. President,

Japan welcomes the progress highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, including progress in the political process, in infrastructure development as well as in judicial and human rights matters, and encourages UNTAET to continue its efforts in all those areas. Japan fully supports the extention of UNTAET's mandate. Today I would like to focus on the political process leading to the independence of East Timor and to share some thoughts on the post-independence phase.

First let me touch upon the political process toward independence.

Japan welcomes the growing consensus among the East Timorese people on the political calendar for achieving independence. It is our fundamental position that the will of the people must be respected in deciding how East Timor should be governed. In this regard, my delegation would like to reiterate the critical importance of pursuing independence through a political process that is open, fair and democratic. And in order to ensure lasting peace and security after independence, it will be necessary to establish a political system that is likewise open, fair and democratic. We are confident that Mr. Ramos-Horta and the other leaders of the East Timorese people understand the importance of these goals and will spare no effort in achieving them.

Although we understand the existence of possible technical difficulties, as mentioned in the Secretary-General's report, we urge the United Nations to do its best to realize the sequence of political steps to be agreed upon by the East Timorese people. At the same time, we call upon the people of East Timor to understand that insufficient preparation can result in compromising the openness, inclusiveness and fairness of the process. We also fully support the emphasis, as described in the Secretary-General's report, that is placed on sustainability and capacity-building in the election process with a view to enabling the East Timorese themselves to conduct their future elections.

The issue of East Timorese refugees in West Timor continues to be a source of concern. Efforts should be made both by the Indonesian authorities and the relevant UN agencies to solve the refugee problem as soon as possible. And we should bear in mind that the political process toward independence should involve as many people as possible, including East Timorese refugees who are willing to participate in the nation-building process.

The recent violent incidents in connection with the political campaigning by the East Timorese parties are disturbing. We call on the people of East Timor to ensure that the political process toward independence is orderly and peaceful, and we urge UNTAET to make every effort to assist them in this regard. Caution and sensitivity on the part of UNTAET are required in dealing with this matter, but violence must not be tolerated. Efforts to instill in the East Timorese people respect for the democratic process and its rules can also be useful. Japan is more than willing to help in this regard, and has decided to sponsor a seminar on electoral law, to be held by UNTAET in February, with the aim of promoting discussion and understanding of the electoral system among the East Timorese.

Next let me comment on the post-independence phase.

We share the Secretary-General's analysis that East Timor will continue to require substantial international support after independence is achieved. Japan will remain committed to helping East Timor in the post-independence phase. I would like to stress two important points in this regard.

One is that after independence the transfer of authority should be complete. In order to encourage East Timor's self-reliance, it should be made clear that with independence the responsibility for administering the country will then rest with the East Timorese, with the international community and the UN playing an advisory role. This, of course, cannot happen all at once on the day of independence. But it is imperative, during this transition phase, to foster a sense of ownership among the East Timorese and to help them develop the necessary skills and capabilities for running a nation. From this point of view, Japan fully supports UNTAET's policy of accelerated transfer of authority to the Timorese and the so-called "Timorization" of the administration. We strongly encourage the continuation of this policy.

The other point I wish to raise is the importance of the international community remaining steadfast in its efforts to assist East Timor. Continuity is essential in order to ensure that the efforts made thus far for the reconstruction and development of East Timor are fruitful. The necessary systems and mechanisms must be in place to ensure continuity in the provision of international assistance. In this regard, the need for effective donor-coordination mechanisms remains undiminished. These should include a framework for the overall assessment and review of the assistance that is being provided. The well-established practice of holding donor conferences is one such mechanism. A coordinating mechanism on the ground, such as the role currently played by UNTAET, to maintain daily contact with donors is also necessary.

Furthermore, in view of the profound shortage of human resources in East Timor and its implications for the transfer of the administration, Japan believes that the UN presence in East Timor after independence should include not only military and civilian police components but also a capacity and institution-building component to provide advice to the East Timorese. Without such a component, the nation-building process could be seriously disrupted.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, I would like once again to commend the UN staff under the able leadership of Mr. de Mello, the members of the international community and especially the people of East Timor as they work together to build a promising future. Japan shares their hopes for a successful transition to independence and remains determined to make a genuine contribution to this endeavor.