STATEMENT BY FINN RESKE-NIELSEN, ACTING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR TL

9 Jul 2008

STATEMENT BY FINN RESKE-NIELSEN, ACTING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR TL

UNMIT, Dili, October 5th, 2006 – I am deeply grateful to the President, Prime Minister, and the President of Parliament for their joint statement of this morning, on the necessity of the upcoming Independent Commission of Inquiry report for building rule of law in Timor-Leste.

The report is indeed a first step in an essential process of accountability and reconciliation. We have all seen the harm that comes when conflict turns to violence. The intention of the Commissioners in writing this report has been to establish the truth, so that the people of Timor-Leste have a clear and trustworthy basis for understanding the events of April and May, and a tool for resolving differences peacefully. I have little doubt that without peace, unity, and rule of law, Timor-Leste will not flourish.

The new United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste believes that accountability is the only way to end impunity. For this reason the United Nations is working together to ensure that the report will be available to as wide a public as possible in Tetum, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia and English. It will be released later this month once translations have been completed.

For additional information, please contact:
Adrian Edwards, Acting Chief, Public Information Office, UNMIT; +670 723 0453 or Donna Cusumano, Spokesperson at +670 723 0749