Statement by H.E. Mr. Chirachai Punkrasin, Ambassador and Charge d’affaires, a.i., Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at the Open Debate of the Security Council, on the situation in Timor-Leste, New York, 19 February 2009
Mr. President,
1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
2. At the outset, ASEAN would like to congratulate Japan, our Dialogue Partner, for your assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. We commend Japan for organizing an Open Debate on this important issue for our region. We would like to extend our warm welcome to His Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. We also commend the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Timor-Leste for their tireless dedication and hard works to support Timor-Leste.
Mr. President,
3. ASEAN stands firmly in solidarity with the Government and people of Timor-Leste in their nation-building process and their admirable effort to achieve a stable, democratic and prosperous Timor-Leste. ASEAN’s support for the United Nations in Timor-Leste has always been strong and consistent. Member States of ASEAN have contributed their respective troops and police observers to successive United Nations Missions in Timor-Leste, including the current United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
4. ASEAN welcomes the remarkable progress achieved by the Government and people of Timor-Leste in overcoming various challenges to nation-building and commends the resilience that the country has shown in response to the events of 11 February 2008. We welcome the fact that the overall situation has returned to normalcy and the security situation remains calm, while notable progresses have been made to address the two major residual consequences of the 2006 crisis, which are the issues of “petitioners” and the internally displaced persons.
5. ASEAN believes that a holistic approach is important to ensure that Timor-Leste progresses smoothly from peacekeeping to peace building and to durable peace, security and development. Peace, stability, development, rule of law and good governance are all interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Therefore, ASEAN supports the holistic approach of the UNMIT as reflected in the four mandated priority areas, which are review and reform of the security sector; strengthening of the rule of law; economic and social development, particularly in the rural areas; and promotion of a culture of democratic governance and dialogue.
6. ASEAN strongly believes that national ownership should, not only continue to be a principle that guides every work of the UNMIT, but also be the ultimate goal that the international community should strive to achieve.
7. ASEAN believes that, guided by strong leadership and assisted by international cooperation, Timor-Leste is moving forward in the right direction. But many daunting challenges do still remain. Therefore, ASEAN strongly believes that substantial and sustained international partnership will continue to be vital to assist Timor-Leste in building on past gains and laying a solid foundation for the future. Taking into account the expressed wish of the Government of Timor-Leste for a continued robust UNMIT presence, ASEAN is supportive of the Secretary-General’s observation that an extension of the UNMIT mandate for a period of 12 months at the current composition and strength is essential.
8. While the international community should continue to be consistent in its support for the stability and security of Timor-Leste, ASEAN believes that concerted and sustained international assistance to support socio-economic development of the country is no less significant. Investment in human capital and livelihoods of the people, particularly at the community level, is an investment in long-term peace, stability and prosperity of the country. In this regard, we are pleased that the Government of Timor-Leste and the UNMIT recently co-signed the five-year United Nations Development Assistance Framework for 2009-2013, which, in our view, constitutes a good framework for achieving national solidarity and development.
9. Development is always close to the heart of ASEAN because we know that development, peace and security are interlinked. So far, many ASEAN Member States have been working with the Government of Timor-Leste on development and technical assistance programs in accordance with the needs and priorities of Timor-Leste, for example, in areas of human resources development, capacity-building, poverty alleviation, employment generation, rural development, infrastructure development, agriculture, fisheries, and public health.
Mr. President,
10. In conclusion, ASEAN would like to reiterate our support for the work of the United Nations in Timor-Leste. ASEAN will continue to stand in solidarity and friendship with the Government and people of Timor-Leste, who are our friend and regional partner, in their nation-building process and wish them success in overcoming future challenges. ASEAN will continue to engage with Timor-Leste. We look forward to Timor-Leste’s attendance in the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting as guest of the Chair and participation in the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand later this year.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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