13 Jan 2010

SRSG Ameerah Haq opening remarks at UNMIT press conference

Dili, 13 January 2010 - Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste meets with the media at her first press conference.

Gyorgy Kakuk (UNMIT Spokesperson): Welcome everybody, Thanks for accepting our invitation for today's press conference which will be held by the newly appointed SRSG, Ameerah Haq. Perhaps you all know she arrived in Timor-Leste last week on the 5^th of January. We are going to proceed with the SRSG's initial statement and then we will open up for questions. So please be prepared.

Ameerah Haq: Good morning everybody and thank you very much for coming here. I am really delighted to have an opportunity to speak with all of you today. First of all let me tell you how very pleased I am to be in your beautiful country. I have already had the privilege of meeting many of your leaders. It is a great honour for me to be here leading the efforts of the United Nations to help the people of Timor-Leste and Timorese authorities to continue to consolidate peace and development in your country.

It is exactly a week since I have been here. I remarked to many people how beautiful the country was as I was flying into Dili. And also in driving around Dili town I am very impressed at what I sense is a vibrancy in this town: internet cafes are full, shops are thriving. It is great to see how people are moving around in a town that is peaceful and secure.

I have had the privilege and honour to meet your President, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Parliament, the Secretary-General of Fretilin, among others. And just this morning I felt very privileged to have been able to address the Council of Ministers. I have felt very warmly welcomed by all.

I am also very impressed with the relationship, the depth of the relationship, between the United Nations and the people of Timor-Leste. This has been developed, as you know, over many years, and I am privileged to be leading the United Nations now to help the people in Timor-Leste to continue with nation- and state-building. I am committed to continuing the work that the United Nations has done here, and in my role as the leader of the United Nations I look forward to the invitations that I have had from your leadership for frank and cordial discussions on many issues that we both need to address.

Most of all I am really very happy to have this opportunity today to meet with all of you, as journalists and media. I consider that you have a very important role to play in the development of your country, and your role is absolutely vital to strengthening democracy. I think a free and independent media is one of the essential ingredients of democracy. You have a very important responsibility in conveying a lot of the key messages to the citizens of your country. Information is a source of empowerment. That power, I feel, must be used responsibly. I consider your role very important in making that information go out far and wide all through Timor-Leste. You as media have a very important role to play in advocacy, in setting policy agendas and in social and economic development.

In all of my work in the UN, which has been for quite a long time, I have always stressed that the relationship with the media is one of the ingredients that will make me a good leader of the United Nations. So I look forward to this relationship with all of you. And I know that you have a very good relationship already with our Public Information Office and I look forward to working with them so that we can address many of the challenging issues ahead of us.

Let me take this opportunity, then, as a piece of information, to tell you that right now in the country there is a Technical Assessment Mission of the United Nations. The role of this, we call it the TAM Mission, is to assess the requirements and the situation in Timor-Leste as it relates to the mission of UNMIT. Over a period that started in November there have been extensive consultations with many stakeholders, with the Government, with civil society and I think with the media, and also with bilateral donors. In this final week we have our colleagues who have come from New York and who are meeting with Government authorities, with Members of Parliament, with civil society and a broad range of stakeholders, and they are looking at what the role of UNMIT will be between now and 2012. We are very hopeful that the recommendations which we will all arrive at together will strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the Government of Timor-Leste in focusing on what we can best do in the period between now and 2012.

So, let me stop here in terms of my initial remarks and I will be very happy to take some questions from you.

Questions and Answers

Question: My name is Napoleon Xavier from Diario Nacional. What will be the programmes of UNMIT between 2010-2012, what will be the focus of UNMIT?

Ameerah Haq: Thank you very much for asking that question, it is a very important one. The UN as you know, in terms of the Mission, the mandate is provided to us by the Security Council. This consists of four areas. One is the overall security sector and looking at the consolidation of peace and stability in Timor-Leste. An important part of that is the support provided in police reform. But it also includes support and elements of military support and security sector reform.

There are also elements of good offices as we call it, which is making sure that democracy works, and there is engagement with political leaders and leaders of all the opposition parties and other political parties.

There are also areas of democracy and governance, in supporting elections and in supporting other institutions and capacity building.

And last but not least is social and economic development and making sure that there is improvement in the quality of the lives of people. These are the broad range of activities.

Question: My name is Santino from Timor Newsline. I would like to find out what is UNMIT's view point on the presence of ISF (International Security Force) since the crisis? Now that the situation has been improving, I would like to see what is your view on the mandate in terms of the presence of the ISF here in Timor-Leste.

Ameerah Haq: The presence of the ISF, as you know, is a bilateral agreement between the governments of, combined, Australia and New Zealand, and Timor-Leste. Our Military Liaison Group works closely with them in terms of providing capacity in certain areas - of security, particularly on the border, of policing. But as I said the ISF is governed by a bilateral arrangement so they do not fall under the UNMIT mandate.

Question: My name is Tito Filipe from Radio Timor-Leste.

It has been ten years that Timor-Leste has been with the United Nations, and this has created dependency of Timor-Leste on the UN. What are the weaknesses on the part of Timor-Leste which you focus on as the UN continues to provide support.

Secondly, will there be a new mechanism for the UN's presence in Timor-Leste, taking into account that now we have a Technical Assessment Mission in town?

And thirdly, as the new leader of the UN Mission here in Timor-Leste what do you see, I mean what is your view on the UN's commitment to bring the perpetrators of serious crimes to justice? There is a contradiction between the UN commitment and our government in this matter.

Ameerah Haq: Thank you very much for asking that question. I think, you know, the nation is ten years old, you just celebrated your tenth year anniversary. And by all measurements it is still considered a young nation and a nation that is developing. I don't think that I would, you know, see the relationship characterized as one of dependency; the reason that I say that is that already it is very impressive in terms of the number of institutions and the capacity that has already been built in these ten years.

As I said, I addressed the Council of Ministers this morning. There are Ministries that are established in all key areas. There is, as I said, peace and calm and a secure situation, as we discussed. Following the crisis from 2006 the security situation has been maintained very well, so I think that the progress of a nation within ten years as I see it is very noteworthy.

However that doesn't mean that Timor-Leste has already established itself at a level where it cannot benefit from expertise, from experience, in not only the relationship and partnership with the United Nations but also with bilateral governments. And also through efforts outside of government efforts, for example through the private sector and through non-governmental organizations. I think there is tremendous scope for the country to benefit and develop its capacity and establish strong structures and foundations within which to build itself as a strong and resilient nation. So I would not characterize the relationship as dependency but a relationship of a partnership with many entities to build these strong foundations.

The recommendations of the TAM will go before the Security Council, which will result in another mandate for the Mission. And those recommendations as always will contain the work that the UN will continue to do on justice, on rule of law, and on human rights. And with respect to all of these there will continue to be the position that there must be no impunity for serious crimes against humanity. The work of all the institutions of justice here will continue to be part of the mandate of UNMIT as they have been doing.

And there is a great deal to be done on legislation, on policy, on capacity building; we are working very closely with the Prosecutor General's office and all the other organs. But again there I think I go back also to what I said in my initial commentary: that I think you know there is a great role not only for the media but also non-governmental organizations to play with respect to advocacy on these issues.

Question: My name is Marianne Kearney...I wanted to ask Ms Ameerah, what do you see as your greatest challenges with this Mission over the next two years?

Ameerah Haq: I think some of the challenges, as I said, one is that we are able to maintain the level of peace and security. In that context I think one of the key challenges will be making sure that the structures and foundations of the security services are built and built upon in terms of continuing capacity. So that includes the confidence of the people and the ability to make sure people feel safe and secure and feel that the right mechanisms are in place for civilians to have a role in determining that the security institutions are meeting their needs.

We have municipal elections coming up, and again it will be important to ensure that these are conducted in a free and fair and safe environment, of safety and security.

There is a general level of public administration and what we call governance, in terms of building up and continuing to support State institutions in their ability to provide adequate support to citizens.

With respect to youth I think one of the challenges primarily is the issue of employment, gainful employment of youth and making sure that there is a stimulus to creating jobs.

And lastly I think in social and economic development that in the regions, the provision of dividends in terms of education, health, water, livelihoods, all go beyond Dili to meeting the needs of the people in all the districts.

Thank you very much.

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Konferénsia Imprensa

Ameerah Haq

Reprezentante Espesiál Sekretáriu-Jerál ba Timor-Leste

13 Janeiru 2010, Dili Timor-Leste

Ameerah Haq: Bondia ba imi hotu no obrigadu barak ba imi atu mai iha ne'e. Ha'u haksolok tebetebes atu hetan oportunidade hodi ko'alia ho imi hotu ohin. Uluk nana'in permiti ha'u atu hato'o ba imi katak ha'u haksolok tebetebes atu mai iha imi-nia rai ne'ebé furak. Ha'u hetan tiha ona priviléjiu atu hasoru ho imi-nia líder sira barabarak. Nu'udar onra boot ida mai ha'u atu mai iha ne'e hodi lidera esforsu sira Nasoins Unidas nian atu kontinua hodi konsolida pás no dezenvovimentu iha imi-nia rain.

Semana ida loloos tiha ona maka ha'u mai iha ne'e. Ha'u hato'o tiha ona ba ema barak katak imi-nia rain ne'e furak bainhira ha'u semo mai Dili. No mós bainhira la'o hadulas sidade Dili ho karreta ha'u impresionante tebetebes ho saída maka ha'u sente mak vibransia iha sidade ida-ne'e: kafé internet sira nakonu, loja sira mosu barak. Furak atu haree oinsá ema la'o ba mai iha sidade ida maka hakmatek no seguru.

Ha'u hetan tiha ona previléjiu no onra atu hasoru, entre outrus, ho imi-nia Prezidente, Primeiru Ministru, Prezidente Parlamentu Nasionál, no Sekretáriu-Jerál Fretilin nian. No mós foin ohin dadeer ida-ne'e ha'u sente prevelijiadu tebetebes atu ko'alia ba Konsellu Ministru. Ha'u sente tebetebes ho saudasaun kmanek ne'ebé hato'o hosi ema hotu.

Ha'u mós impresionante tebetebes ho relasaun, relasaun klean, entre Nasoins Unidas no povu Timor-Leste. Relasaun ida-ne'e dezenvolve tiha ona, hanesan imi hatene, iha tinan barak nia laran, no ha'u prevelijiadu atu lidera Nasoins Unidas oras ne'e hodi tulun povu Timor-Leste atu kontinua ho prosesu harii nasaun no estadu. Ha'u iha kompromisu atu kontinua servisu ne'ebé Nasoins Unidas nian hala'o tiha ona iha ne'e, no iha ha'u-nia knaar hanesan líder Nasoins Unidas nian, ha'u hein atu hetan konvite sira ne'ebé ha'u hetan tiha ona hosi imi-nia lideransa atu hala'o diskusaun sira ne'ebé franku no kordiál kona-ba kestaun sira barak ne'ebé ami presiza atu tau matan.

Liuliu ha'u haksolok tebetebes atu hetan oportunidade ida-ne'e ohin hodi hasoru imi hotu, hanesan jornalista no mídia. Ha'u konsidera katak imi iha knaar importante ida atu hala'o iha dezenvolvimentu ba imi-nia rain, no imi-nia knaar ne'e absolutamente sai importante atu haforsa demokrasia. Ha'u hanoin mídia ida ne'ebé livre no independente sai nu'udar ingrediente esensiál ida ba demokrasia. Imi iha responsabilidade ida ne'ebé importante tebetebes atu hato'o mensajen importante barak ba sidadaun sira imi-nia rain nian. Informasaun ne'e sai nu'udar fonte ida atu hakbiit. Kbiit ne'e, ha'u sente, tenke uza ho responsabilidade. Ha'u konsidera imi-nia knaar ne'e importante tebetebes atu halo informasaun ne'e fó sai no habelar iha Timor-Leste laran tomak. Imi, nu'udar mídia iha knaar importante ida atu hala'o iha advokasia, trasa ajenda polítika sira no iha dezenvolvimentu sósiu-ekonómiku.

Iha ha'u-nia servisu tomak iha ONU nia laran, ne'ebé hala'o iha tempu naruk oituan tiha ona, ha'u sempre subliña katak relasaun ho mídia ne'e sai nu'udar ingrediente ida ne'ebé sei halo líder ida ne'ebé di'ak Nasoins Unidas nian. Tanba ne'e, ha'u hein atu hala'o relasaun ida-ne'e ho imi hotu. No ha'u hatene katak imi iha tiha ona relasaun ida ne'ebé di'ak tebetebes ho ami-nia gabinete informasaun públika, no ha'u hein atu servisu hamutuk ho sira hodi nune'e ita bele tau matan ba dezafiu sira ne'ebé sei mosu mai tan ita.

Entaun, hanesan informasaun rohan oan ida, permiti ha'u atu foti oportunidade ida-ne'e hodi hato'o ba imi katak oras ne'e daudaun iha rai laran ne'e iha Misaun Avaliasaun Téknika Nasoins Unidas nian ida. Kna'ar misaun ida-ne'e, ami bolu naran Misaun TAM, maka atu avalia ezijénsia sira no situasaun iha Timor-Leste tanba buat ne'e relasiona ho misaun UNMIT nian. Liutiha ona periodu ida ne'ebé hahú hala'o iha fulan-Novembru, iha tiha ona konsulta sira ne'ebé estensivu ho parte interesadu sira barabarak, ho Governu, sosiedade sivil no ha'u hanoin ho mídia, no mós ho doadór bilaterál sira. Iha semana ikus ida-ne'e ami iha kolega sira ne'ebé mai hosi Novaiorke no hasoru daudaun ho autoridade sira Governu nian, Membru Parlamentu sira, sosiedade sivil no parte interesadu sira lubuk ida, no sira sei tau matan ba saída maka atu sai nu'udar knaar UNMIT nian entre agora no tinan 2012. Ita hein tebetebes katak rekomendasaun sira ne'ebé ita hotu sei hetan hamutuk, sei haforsa parseria entre Nasoins Unidas no Governu Timor-Leste hodi foka ba saída maka ami bele halo di'ak liután hotu iha periodu entre agora no tinan 2012.

Ho ida-ne'e, permiti ha'u atu para lai iha ne'e kona-ba ha'u-nia diskursu inisiál, no ha'u sei haksolok tebetebes atu hetan pergunta balu hosi imi.

Pergunta no Resposta

Q: Diak, obrigadu, hau nia naran Napoleao Xavier husi media Diario Nacional. Hau nia pergunta maka ne'e. Programa saida maka UNMIT atu halo iha tinan 2010 to 2012?

A: (orijinal iha lian Ingles) Ita bo'ot sira hatene'e katak misaun ONU ne'e hetan nia mandatu ne'e mai husi Konsellu Seguransa. Ne'e komposta husi area ha'at. Primeiru hare ba seitor seguransa, oinsa atu konsolida pas no estabilidade iha Timor-Leste. Iha parte ne'e mak ne'e, oinsa fornese apoiu ba iha reforma polisia e mos inklui apoiu ba elementu ba militar e mos ba iha reforma seitor seguransa. E mos oinsa atu sai lokutor iha prosesu oinsa atu bele hare demokrasia ne'e funsiona, oinsa atu ita hare iha involvementu ho lider politika sira, oinsa bele hare demokrasia ne'e bele funsiona ho diak. E, hare ba kestaun Demokrasia ne'e hare ba kestaun Governasaun atu oinsa apoiu iha eleisaun e mos iha apoiu ba iha kapasitasaun instituisaun sira nian. Ikus liu maibe la'os la importante, maka dezenvolvementu sosio-ekonomiku, oinsa atu hadiak moris ema nian. Ne'e maka atividade bo'ot e luan ne'ebe UNMIT sei atu halao.

Q: Hau nia naran Santino, husi Timor Ne'ewsline'e. Hau atu husu konaba oinsa UNMIT nia hare konaba, tamba seguransa iha rai laran desde krize mai to agora hahu lao diak ne'ebe ita hare FSI ne'ebe sei kontrola nafatin iha Dili no mos balun iha distritu. Ida ne'e mos sai perokupasaun, oinsa UNMIT bele e iha ninia mandatu ou FSI bele remata nia misaun iha ne'e ka lae?

A: (orijinal iha lian Ingles) Atu hakarak hateten katak ISF ne'e hanesan akordu bilateral husi parte govenu Timor-Leste-Australia ho Nova Zelandia. Maibe, ami nia grupu ligasaun militar servisu hamutuk ho sira atu hare oinsa ba iha kapasidade liu-liu atu hare ba iha parte fronteira ninian e ISF dala ida tan katak la halo parte iha estrutura UNMIT nian ne'ebe ne'e hanesan akordu bilateral entre Timor-Leste ho nasaun sira hanesan ohin hau temi ne'e.

Q: Obrigadu, hau Tito Filipe husi Radio Timor-Leste. Hau hakarak husu tinan sanulu ona ONU marka Timor-Leste ukun maibe sei mosu dependensia, karik tuir Nasoens Unidas nian observasaun, frakeza ne'e iha ne'ebe no ita bo'ot sira hakarak foka ita bo'ot sira nia apoiu ne'e iha area ne'ebe? Segundu, maka serra que sei iha mekanismu foun ba misaun ne'ebe karik sei mai tamba iha oras ne'e daudaun sei iha ekipa ida halo evaluasaun, serra que iha mekanismu foun ba prezensa ONU ninian? Terseiru

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