Saying that it had acted in a "rapid, firm, and responsible manner," the UN Security Council praised Timor-Leste for its quick and effective response to the assassination attempts last February against President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.
The Council also warned that the "political, security, social and humanitarian situation in the country remains fragile" despite progress in boosting the country's security situation since the violent clashes in 2006.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, told the Council the Timorese Government was making strides in addressing some of the priority challenges stemming from the 2006 crisis, citing the return home of all of the army petitioners and the continuing closure of the country's camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Timorese Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa, who also addressed the Council on 19 August, emphasized the unique partnership between Timor-Leste and the UN. "We have made many strides forward in the last nine years. We cannot afford, at this stage in our country's development, to lose focus," he said.
