As a follow-up to President Cardoso s visit, a Brazilian technical mission is presently visiting East Timor in order to identify opportunities of cooperation in the area of agriculture. We hope to build on our experience regarding South-South cooperation with a view to strengthening the cooperation with East Timor and expand the areas covered by Brazilian projects. Mr. President, In the security area the report calls attention to persistent militia activities in and around the refugee camps of West Timor and in the border area. We therefore recognize the importance of maintaining a credible dissuasive capacity on the ground. The report highlights also the need to reinforce the judicial system.
Accountability is the keyword to heal the wounds of recent tragedies in East Timor.
The Indonesian Parliament s decision to establish and ad hoc tribunal to deal with gross violations of human rights in East Timor is a positive step. But the limitation later imposed to the jurisdiction of this tribunal would mean that massacres such as the ones that occurred in Suai and Liquica could not be prosecuted. We note however that besides a residual military presence that might be warranted, the bulk of UN and international assistance to East Timor will be concentrated in capacity-building. The future presence will essentially aim at the far-reaching tasks of nation building to the establishment of effective democratic institutions coupled with the creation of economic opportunities for all. As a matter of principle, planning for the future UN presence should not be reported only to the Security Council.