Notícias

Agence France-Presse - Saturday, September 23, 2006
E Timor may ask Portugal for more police: Ramos Horta

East Timorese Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta has told Portuguese radio his country might ask Portugal for more police if Dili's request for a United Nations
(UN) peacekeeping force is turned down.

"Maybe Portugal could make another contingent of its military police available to East Timor. They would then become part of the international police force," Dr Ramos Horta told Lisbon-based Radio Renascenca.

"It would be an option which could compensate a refusal to send blue helmets to East Timor on the part of the UN Security Council."

Portugal, the former colonial ruler of East Timor, sent a contingent of 120 military police in June at the country's request to help contain a wave of deadly violence and looting by factional divisions in the fledgling nation.

The police are part of an Australian-led multinational task force that also includes troops from New Zealand and Malaysia.

The violence began after then-prime minister Dr Mari Alkatiri dismissed 600 soldiers in an army of 1,400 when they protested over suspected discrimination against soldiers from the west of the tiny country.

The international force deployed to East Timor formally handed over their authority to the UN last week during a ceremony in Dili.

East Timor has asked for a UN peacekeeping force and UN secretary-general Kofi Annan last month recommended 2,000 UN troops.

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UNMIT website - 22nd September 2006
Transcript of Press Conference with SRSG Hasegawa
Final remarks before departing Timor-Leste

In attendance:
SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa, DSRSG Finn Reske-Nielsen, Police Commissioner Antero Lopes, Local and International Journalists, UNMIT Colleagues
Date: 22nd September 2006
Venue: UNMIT Conference Room, Dili, Timor-Leste


SRSG Hasegawa:
I would like to start my last press conference as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General here in Timor-Leste. I am very pleased to have here my Deputy SRSG, Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen, who is also the Head of the Transition Team. And from my departure today, he will act here as the Officer-in-Charge and acting SRSG until the arrival of the new Special Representative. I will make a very brief statement and then respond to any questions you may have.

The security situation indeed remains very fragile and volatile, especially here in the capital city of Dili; and this stands in contrast to the situation in six sub-districts I have visited during the course of the last few weeks. In Baucau, Lospalos, Viqueque, Suai, Maliana and Ainaro, the PNTL [Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste] maintains law and order more or less satisfactorily. Whereas here in Dili we continue to witness stone throwing, and attacks on IDP camps and also some communal violence. Indeed, I am very concerned at signs that disturbances at the IDP camps are becoming organised. So, certainly we can discuss this and we have with us here today acting UNPOL Commissioner, Mr. Antero Lopes. So if you are interested in asking specific questions on this, he will respond to you.

During the last two days, I have had opportunity to meet with the key leaders of this country including President Xanana Gusmao yesterday evening for several hours, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta, this morning President Francisco Lu’Olo Guterres of the National Parliament, and former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, yesterday. And in all the meetings that I had with them I stressed the importance of the national leaders and the people of this country to do everything possible to avoid falling into what I call conflict trap. It is a black hole –- a conflict trap -- that has the potential to suck the people into a conflict from which it will be very difficult to get out. I made this plea based on my own personal experience of visits and also my own assignments in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Somalia, and Rwanda where I have been closely associated with peacekeeping and peace-building operations. The United Nations plays a very crucial role in trying to avoid this kind of movement by first establishing the truth, then helping to achieve justice for all, and then reconciliation.

As you know, the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor Leste is completing its investigations and the Commission’s report containing the findings and recommendations will become available in about two to three weeks. It should be stressed that this is a first step in a three-phased approach. It aims at establishing facts about what happened in April and May of 2006. Once that report is published, the Timorese leaders and people will have the opportunity to discuss what indeed can be done to move forward. To assist the pursuit of justice the United Nations (particularly UNDP here, with Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen also acting as Resident Representative) has made major efforts, including the successful recruitment of several judges and prosecutors. I believe that this Independent Commission will make appropriate recommendations about how their recommendations can be followed up, if necessary, with additional judicial personnel being recruited.

And then I think we can engage in national dialogue for reconciliation. Here I would like to stress that in all the districts that I have visited over the last two-to-three weeks, there has been maintenance of law and order, and the functioning of civil administration –- and they find it necessary that perhaps reconciliation should indeed be initiated at the top national level. And in my meetings with leaders, they expressed their understanding of this importance and indeed showed willingness to engage in dialogue along with the justice process that has to proceed.

As this country should indeed move forward on its own self-reliant efforts for achieving peace and stability, I find it critically important that the presidential and parliamentary elections are held in a free, fair and credible manner. I think for this purpose, in my view, that the secretariat for the preparation of electoral activities, STAE, should as much as possible be an independent body. And I am quite confident, with the certification, verification process that the United Nations will carry out and the massive support that the United Nations will provide, that if this preparatory work and administration of the elections are carried out by STAE as an independent body, I think there will be increased credibility of the elections. I recommend highly that this be so preserved.

So, I think I will stop here and be pleased to invite any questions you might have.

Question:
[Inaudible] … referring to the selection of the next Special Representative of the Secretary-General? (LUSA)

SRSG Hasegawa:
The Secretary-General is now going through the careful selection process for a new SRSG. He considers it of the highest importance to identify and recruit a person of considerable stature and experience to carry out the important function of the SRSG here in this country. And I expect that he will complete that selection process shortly and will make his announcement.

Question:
From your point of view, how do you evaluate the East Timor crisis as the Head of UNOTIL? (Timor Post)

SRSG Hasegawa:
The recent crisis has been a very valuable lesson not only to Timor-Leste itself and its leadership, but to the international community. The Secretary-General himself clearly stated that the United Nations left Timor-Leste perhaps a little too early and I think that lesson has very much been learnt by the international community. Therefore the Security Council has decided in its Resolution 1704 to establish this new integrated mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). I think the new integrated mission has an opportunity to make a major contribution to re-building this somewhat fractured society. So I am confident that this [crisis] will prove to be temporary setback and that Timor-Leste will bounce back to constitute a viable democratic society.

The process of peace-building, nation-building is also not only a time consuming exercise, but it also requires changes in the culture of governance and mindset of people. And this is a very difficult part of nation-building. So, I think the United Nations will be engaged, very much, in making a difference and changes in the process of governing this country even with the installation of a new culture of democratic governance.

For example, in the area of security, particularly in the management of PNTL, the UNPOL Is playing a very decisive role in screening some of the PNTL officers based on their past behaviour. And this entails in fact a very clear new commitment that the culture of impunity cannot no longer be tolerated.

Question:
Could you please explain the progress and failures of the Mission? (RTTL)

SRSG Hasegawa:
One of the major achievements made during the UNOTIL period, which lasted for one year, has been the transition from the mission-funded institution-building exercise to what we call a development assistance framework – a more sustainable framework of institutional building.

The recent security crisis tends to overshadow other achievements. When I came here we had 100 what we call ‘critically important advisers’ who were funded by the Security Council and 200 ‘development advisers’ funded by UNDP. All those posts that were funded by the Security Council have now been transferred to UNDP, the World Bank, IMF and other development institutions. Secondly, although you may not recognise it as a critically important achievement, is the fact that the key state institutions have indeed been established, with the assistance of the United Nations. These include the superior councils of defence and security and also the Council of State that played a very crucial role in the recent crisis. Thirdly, we have had significant assistance provided to the Inspector-General’s office that has produced reports. Now, with Prime Minister Ramos-Horta’s commitment, indeed these cases are being pursued. And I would like to stress that the nation building process takes time and that results will gradually materialise in the long run.

I would like to just add to these accomplishments that we have made major progress in promulgating the principle of human rights, that human rights training has been carried out over a period of three to four years and that this country has committed itself very clearly to that principle.

Question:
During your four years of assignment in Timor-Leste, could you tell me your what is the worst time you have faced and what is the best moment you have faced? (AP – Local Journalist)

SRSG Hasegawa:
I think the best time that I faced was the period moving into perhaps last year, where we had a special General Assembly session for the new Millennium. I think there was a momentum for the county to try to formulate its own strategy to achieve many of the Millennium Development Goals, such as increased net school enrolment, reduction in infant mortality rates and so forth. I think there was a commitment to it on the part of the government. I was engaged very much in discussion with the Prime Minister then, Mr. Mari Alkatiri. I think he took it very seriously and went to New York and the General Assembly and made a speech which was regarded as one of the finest speeches delivered by any Head of Government.

If I can identify a second area, which is perhaps a frustrating area, it is the [slow] building up of capacity of the Judiciary. I think this is due to the very low level of capacity that existed when this country became independent. And also there was a high level of expectation that national judges, prosecutors, and defence lawyers could indeed perform. Therefore, in my recent discussions with judges and prosecutors – national and international – I have stressed the importance of their not only acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills but also maintaining their own integrity. I believe and I am confident that the national judges, and prosecutors, and defence lawyers can handle most of the ordinary crimes. It is cases that are of a highly political nature that pose a major challenge to them. Therefore, I find it quite logical and reasonable that the international judicial personnel are brought in to assist this country during this transitional period.

And in response to your question of what is the worst moment of my tenure here, is sadly, it is the most recent political and security crisis. Because it has overshadowed much of the good work that this country has achieved with the assistance of the United Nations. And as I said in my opening statement, I have called upon the key leaders of this country to be fully aware of the danger that they may fall into the black hole of conflict trap. I was very pleased to see the understanding and appreciation by these leaders of the need to avoid this kind of trap.

For example, as a first step when the Commission of Inquiry report is published the leaders will have a responsibility to make sure that these findings and recommendations are received as the first step in a process of truth finding -- to establish the facts about what happened in April and May. And these findings and recommendations should not be used as a means to tell their followers that their expectations were not met. As a result of my own dialogue that I have had with these leaders during the last few days, I am more confident than before that Timor-Leste has a good chance of avoiding this kind of trap that they may fall into.

Question:
You mentioned that during your visit to the districts, the people in the districts say that there should be dialogue … among the leaders from the top. Do you accept this idea, or do you have any other points of views? And the second question, so perhaps you can also inform us after this mandate here as the SRSG, what is your new endeavour; what is your new task? (STL)

SRSG Hasegawa:
I think that leaders of this country should indeed listen to their people. I think in a democratic society that this dialogue should take place, and I think in fact in Timor-Leste we have had a lot of progress in this area. I did not mention it to you earlier, but there was the Open Governance Forum that was successfully held by the government of former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. At the same time here in Dili there are many different factors that resulted in the conflict in April, May, extending into June. And therefore it is indeed prudent for the national leaders to wait and to see and read the report, because the situation was so complex that none of them, or none of us, had the full picture of what was happening. And when you talk about the engagement of the national leaders, certainly I very much commend and appreciate Prime Minister Ramos-Horta’s very active engagement for the last few months in visiting the camps, in visiting many, many district levels. And I think he went to Oecussi yesterday immediately after he returned from his overseas trip.

Now with regard to your second question, in fact I look much younger than my actual age. I would say that I may be close to what they call one generation or several years older than my colleague Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen. I have received offers from two universities in my country, Japan, to teach at the undergraduate and graduate school level. But indeed it is also true that some of my countrymen think I am still young -- by their standards -- so therefore I should stay on in the United Nations.

Okay, unless you have any other questions, it is already 11:00 o’clock and I appreciate very much your association with me during these last four years. Timor-Leste is a country that many people around the world want to come to. And I think it is very timely that there is a change from one team to another, and the United Nations has a very smooth transition and we will continue to support this country to overcome the current crisis and to establish sustainable peace, stability and development.

Obrigado Barak.

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Rui Nabeiro quer apostar no mercado chinês

Macau, China, 23 Set (Lusa) - O patrão da empresa de cafés Delta disse hoje à Lusa que quer apostar no mercado de Macau e da China mas recusa projecções de exportações sublinhando que a companhia tem de estar "preparada para responder ao mercado".

"Não vamos fazer projecções de que queremos exportar esta ou aquela quantidade. Temos é de estar preparados para enfrentar os desafios e para responder aos apelos que o mercado nos fizer", afirmou Rui Nabeiro à Agência Lusa em Macau.

O líder dos cafés Delta está em Macau integrado na comitiva do Baixo Alentejo que participa na Feira Internacional de Macau e no Fórum para a Cooperação Económica entre a China e os Países de Língua Portuguesa, participando hoje tarde na inauguração de um café que irá servir a tradicional "bica" com as cores da sua empresa.

"É um primeiro passo que estamos a dar e ainda é muito cedo para dizer como vamos trabalhar. Enquanto estiver em Macau vou aproveitar para conhecer o mercado e começar a delinear uma estratégia que depois vamos aplicar passo a passo", disse o empresário.

"O mercado é forte e tem uma grande potencialidade e por isso vamos preparar a nossa acção para começar a trabalhar", acrescentou Rui Nabeiro.

Na região asiática, Rui Nabeiro tem também negócios em Timor- leste, onde comprou este ano cerca de 800 toneladas de café que será exportado para Portugal, onde é torrado e embalado, um negócio que espera que "continue" mas que poderá ser "prejudicado pela situação instável do país".

"Em Timor-Leste temos cerca de 50 funcionários mas a situação de segurança é tão frágil que nunca sabemos o que vai acontecer", afirmou, salientando que a Delta "está interessada em continuar" naquele país mas que as questões de segurança podem prejudicar todo o trabalho.

JCS-Lusa/Fim

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UNMIT Daily Media Review - Friday, 22 September 2006

National Media Reports
TP - Timor Post
DN - Diario Nacional
STL - Suara Timor Lorosae
RTTL - Radio e Televisao de Timor-Leste


Youth Group Commemorates Peace Day

The International Day of Peace has been commemorated in Timor-Leste with messages from Members of Parliament appealing for peace, especially now that that the country is going through a crisis. Youth for Unity, Transparency and Justice (UJTJ) commemorated the day distributing white flowers as a sign of peace, to passers-by in various areas in Dili. According to the coordinator, João ‘Choque’ da Silva, over one hundred people wearing white t-shirts with the message ‘Peace World’ participated in the event by walking, cycling and driving very slowly to Lecidere, the venue where the event started. The theme for the event was “Love yourself, Love others and Love your country’. On this day, the International Day of Peace, Da Silva appealed to all the youth to stop the violence and make peace adding if people choose to be quiet and refuse to speak up and make peace it would be impossible for the Timorese to find peace. He says as per the group’s banner “We Must Make Up And Make Peace”, that means people must stop the violence, stop provoking each other, and stop throwing stones at each other and peace would slowly return. (STL, TP)

President Establishes Traditional Structure

President Xanana Gusmão has nominated the Vice-President of the National Parliament, Francisco Amaral, Dili Administrator, Ruben Braz and President of National Unity Forum, Marito Reis to be part of the traditional structure. The aim of the mandate of the traditional structure is to coordinate with the ‘keepers of the sacred customs’ to discuss the sacred custom in order to minimize the political crisis Timor-Leste is facing. The thee nominees would be responsible for different zones of the territory with Marito Reis in charge of the Eastern part, Francisco Amaral for the Central part and Ruben Braz for the western part of the country. The establishment of the structure has been consulted with the Bishop of Baucau Diocese, Don Basilio do Nascimento who said all Timorese must make every effort to stabilize the country rather than having other people doing it. (STL)

Ramos-Horta Not Allowed To Form Cabinet

Despite demands from various civil society groups that Prime Minister Ramos-Horta cannot make changes to his government cabinet because Fretilin does not allow it, MP Joao Gonçalves (PSD) is reported as saying that Fretilin is stopping the changes because they want the cabinet of the former Prime Minister to remain the same to show they were not to blame for the crisis. But in reality, added the MP, those that continue to work lack maximum capacity to carry their work. On the other hand, he also said, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta must govern according to Fretilin, because he was selected for the job by this party. In a separate article, Jose Luis de Oliveira, the Director of Fundasaun Hak, said the demands by FNJP for government reshuffle is rational as the structure of the first constitutional government and then the second, shows that many ministries are un-functional due to impoverished capacity. But he said it is the responsibility of the National Parliament to look into it and act rather than be MPs with focus on only one political interest. De Oliveira said the MPs must reflect that groups like FNJP emerged as a result the Parliament are not doing its work correctly. He said he disagrees with the demands of FNJP to dissolve the Parliament as it would not help the current situation. FNJP has demanded the reshuffle of the government, judicial system, limited function for the Parliament and recuperation for PNTL and F-FDTL institutions. (TP)

RTTL News Monitoring Report
22 Sept 2006

PM Ramos Horta: International Commission of Inquiry:

RTTL reports that PM Ramos-Horta stated that the International Commission of Inquiry has carried out investigations for some leaders in relation to the crisis. He said that the result of the investigation would be submitted to the National Parliament and General Secretary in October. Horta said that the Commission of Inquiry was not a court and that people involved in the crime must bear responsibility. Regarding international peace day, the PM stated that he was very pleased to see that young people had celebrated the day. He said that the celebrations by youth had given political leaders reason to reflect on the ongoing crisis situation.

Ernesto Fernandez-Dudo ex-commander of Falintil:

Ernesto Fernandez Dudo stated that to end the current situation/crisis representatives from the country’s 13 districts need to sit together to solve the crisis. Dudo also stated that the government must continue to search for the remains of those who were part of the resistance.

João Choque, a youth:

João Choque stated that we must create peace. He said that for 24 years the youth had suffered under Indonesia’s occupation, and that now was a time for unity and peace. He said that some people wish to live in peace and unity and some people still do not want to live in peace. Choque said it is important for the youth to stop throwing rocks at each other, to stop burning houses and looting.

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Jogos da Lusofonia: Comitiva de Timor-Leste totaliza 101 pessoas

Díli, 23 Set (Lusa) - Timor-Leste envia uma delegação de 101 pessoas aos primeiros Jogos da Lusofonia, a realizar entre 07 e 15 de Outubro, em Macau, onde competirá em todas as modalidades, disse hoje à Lusa o presidente do Comité Olímpico Nacional.

Segundo João Carrascalão, além dos atletas, Timor-Leste inclui na sua delegação um grupo cultural, composto por 18 elementos, "para se dar uma mostra viva da passagem, durante 450 anos, de Portugal por Timor, porque há muita coisa que Timor absorveu, nas danças e canções, que fazem também parte da cultura portuguesa".

"É importante que os países da Lusofonia também tenham um conhecimento melhor do que Timor é", acrescentou.

Relativamente à componente desportiva, João Carrascalão reconhece que Timor-Leste "não está de forma nenhuma preparado para competir ao mesmo nível das outras selecções".

A crise político-militar desencadeada em Abril passado afectou os trabalhos de preparação e condicionou os treinos dos atletas.

"Além da falta de infra-estruturas desportivas, a crise afectou a preparação dos atletas. Teve um impacto muito negativo.

Grande número dos atletas vive, à semelhança de outros sectores da população, em campos de deslocados e outros tiveram que fugir para as montanhas e houve mesmo quem tivesse sido apanhado no fogo cruzado durante os confrontos e tivesse morrido", acrescentou.

Por essa razão os treinos decorrem de forma condicionada, porque os atletas receiam ver-se envolvidos nos confrontos entre grupos rivais.

"Além das dificuldades de alimentação e assistência, a crise teve um impacto bastante negativo e a tarefa de juntar atletas não foi fácil. Mas a perspectiva de participar na primeira edição dos Jogos da Lusofonia, e depois nos Jogos da Ásia - a realizar a partir de Dezembro, em Doha, Qatar -, tem sido um incentivo para que se faça um esforço maior ainda", disse.

Outro aspecto condicionante da participação de Timor-Leste são as condições financeiras exigidas para a deslocação.

"Até agora tenho garantido financiamento para equipas de futebol e futsal, voleibol feminino e voleibol de praia, e do grupo cultural. Desta vez o governo vai dar uma ajuda. Não é suficiente, mas vou pedir também apoio a empresas privadas. Para Timor representa um grande esforço", salientou.

João Carrascalão observa que Timor-Leste apostou forte nos Jogos da Lusofonia, de que foi um percursores do movimento pelo que, defendeu, "impunha-se nestes jogos inaugurais uma presença condigna de Timor".

A iniciativa de realização dos Jogos cabe à Associação dos Comités Olímpicos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa (ACOLOP), criada em 2004 em Lisboa.

Nesta primeira edição dos Jogos participam representações desportivas dos nove membros efectivos da ACOLOP (Angola, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Macau, Moçambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe e Timor-Leste) e os três membros associados (Guiné-Equatorial, Sri Lanka e Índia).

Durante 12 dias de competição, já que a 04 de Outubro tem início o torneio de futebol, no qual compete a selecção olímpica portuguesa, vão decorrer 48 eventos.

Os Jogos reúnem oito modalidades desportivas: atletismo, basquetebol, futebol, futsal, taekwondo, ténis de mesa, voleibol de praia e voleibol.

EL-Lusa/Fim

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Tradução da Margarida.

A necessidade de reforma do Conselho de Segurança é maior do que nunca, diz Annan quando urge acção
Centro de Notícias da ONU
Quinta-feira, 21 Setembro 2006

Como parte dos seus esforços para apressar o processo de reformas da ONU, o Secretário-Geral Kofi Annan disse que o Conselho de Segurança de 15 membros deve mudar para reflectir a nova realidade das relações internacionais, e apelou a todos os Estados Membros para encontrarem uma solução de compromisso para resolver o impasse.

“Nenhuma reforma das Nações Unidas estará completa sem a reforma do Conselho de Segurança. E, na verdade, enquanto o Conselho se mantiver sem reforma, o processo total de transformar a governação doutras partes do sistema está prejudicado pela percepção duma desigual distribuição de poderes,” disse num jantar oferecido pelo Paquistão e pela Itália.

“Pelo bem dos povos do mundo e das Nações Unidas, não podemos permitir que continue o impasse actual … Discutiram a questão durante muito tempo, e, de facto, no ano passado foi assunto de debate intenso e de discussões entre vós. A necessidade é clara e nunca foi maior.”

Mr. Annan também enfatizou que se o Conselho não for reformado é difícil ver como pode responder aos pedidos dos Estados Membros, especialmente para a manutenção da paz, acrescentando que o seu número mais do que quadruplicou somente nos últimos 10 anos. Correntemente, há cinco Membros permanentes do Conselho com o direito de veto: China, França, Federação Russa, Reino Unido e os Estados Unidos.

“O mundo mudou dramaticamente desde 1945, e o Conselho de Segurança também deve mudar,” disse.

“Hoje temos mais de 90,000 [capacetes azuis da ONU] destacados, e se tivermos de responder aos mandatos que o Conselho de Segurança nos deu para o Líbano, Timor-Leste, Sudão – isto é, Darfur – o total subirá para perto de 140,000 tropas. Não será fácil erguer um tal número de tropas de países que se sentem inadequadamente representados no Conselho que decide esses mandatos.”

Lamentou que ao mesmo tempo que “virtualmente toda a gente” concorda na necessidade de alargar o Conselho, os Estados se tenham “entrincheirado” no apoio a várias opções que foram esboçadas para a reforma e apelou a que repensem as suas posições.

“Os países nos dois lados da divisória beneficiariam se se pudesse encontrar uma solução de compromisso. Todos sofrerão se o impasse continuar … Tenho esperança que todos os membros façam um esforço novo e urgente para explorar novos caminhos. Os povos do mundo estão à espera.”

Em Março do ano passado, Mr. Annan emitiu um relatório intitulado Em Maior Liberdade, no qual endossou dois modelos para a reforma do Conselho. O primeiro modelo contempla seis lugares permanentes – dois para cada, África e Ásia, e um para cada, Europa e Américas, sem a criação de nenhum veto. No segundo modelo não há nenhum novo membro permanente com veto, mas cria uma nova categoria de oito lugares de quatro anos, renováveis, e um novo lugar de dois anos não-permanente (e não-renovável) dividido entre as maiores áreas regionais.

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Tradução da Margarida.

Soldado da Nova Zelândia ocupa posição chave da ONU em Timor Leste
Scoop
Sexta-feira, 22 Setembro 2006, 10:06 am
Comunicado de Imprensa: Governo da Nova Zelândia
Hon Phil Goff
Ministro da Defesa

22 Setembro 2006
Declaração aos media

Soldado da Nova Zelândia vai ocupar posição chave da ONU em Timor-Leste

Um oficial das Forças Armadas da Nova Zelândia foi nomeado para o cargo de Oficial-Chefe da Ligação Militar com a Missão Integrada da ONU em Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

"O coronel Graeme Williams ocupará o seu posto em Outubro," anunciou hoje o Ministro da Defesa Phil Goff.

"Enquanto Oficial-Chefe da Ligação Militar, a sua posição será vital para a Missão da ONU. O coronel Williams será uma fonte vital de conselho militar para o responsável da missão da ONU.

"Será responsável peta organização operacional, funcionamento e condução efectiva de 34 oficiais de ligação militares da ONU destacados na UNMIT," disse Mr Goff.

"A escolha do coronel Williams para esta nomeação reflecte a alta consideração em que é tido internacionalmente o pessoal das forças de defesa da Nova Zelândia.

"Reflecte particularmente bem as capacidades, habilidades e experiência operacional do pessoal de defesa de topo da Nova Zelândia.

"A Nova Zelândia deu um contributo significativo para a segurança de Timor-Leste desde 1999. Esta nomeação é consistente com o nosso comprometimento de há muito tempo com a paz e a segurança regional.

"O coronel Williams juntar-se-à a um oficial das Forças de Defesa da Nova Zelândia ligado à UNMIT e a um grupo de infantaria ligeira já destacado em Timor-Leste com a Combined Joint Task Force liderada pelos Australianos," disse Mr Goff.

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