Luxembourg, 13/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the General Affairs Council, the EU 15 heard Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative for the United Nations Secretary General and Provisional Administrator for East Timor, outline the situation in the field. In the shadow of the future Donors Conference, taking place in Lisbon from 21 to 23 June, Commissioner Chris Patten described the methods for implementing aid to be granted by the EU to support reconstruction.
During a press conference, Sergio Vieira de Mello underlined "two particularities": a) the "unique character" of the mandate given to him that leads him to "fully assume administrative, legislative and judicial power," recalling that the Timorese had "overwhelmingly voted in favour if independence"; b) "the participation of the Timorese in the true management of transition." Those involved feel, in the first place, insufficient the participation that brought it to formulate "far reaching proposals' (they notably aim for Timorese personalities to occupy high ranking positions within the UN administration) and that showed "very positive reactions." Mr. Viera de Mello ended by saying that he hoped that the EU and Commission would remain "engaged at a political and military, but also financial level." With regard to this, Commissioner Patten recalled that the EU already provided humanitarian aid of EUR 15 million (via ECHO) and food aid of EUR 8.5 million. Furthermore, it undertook to contribute: - an aid of EUR 10 million for the reconstruction of the civil administration; - an aid for reconstruction (EUR 18 million in 2000 and 20 million in 2001) that will be centred, initially, on the needs in terms of health and reconstruction. Commissioner Patten warned that there would be, to re-build the administration, a "growing demands made to donors," judging that it is "very important" that they "answer the very reasonable demands" from the provisional administrator. This opinion was supported by Commissioner Nielson who also underlined the need to find a solution for the people who are still in West Timor: he said he was ready to put pressure on all the parties concerned to achieve this.