Brussels, 12/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, Commission President José Manuel Barroso and development commissioner Louis Michel welcome the inauguration of José Ramos-Horta as the new Prime Minister of Timor Leste, noting that this appointment “provides hope for a solution to the recent crisis” in the country. The Commission points out that it has been and remains a committed partner of Timor Leste and that Mr Barroso has shown this by appointing Miguel Amado, who is already on mission in Timor Leste (see EUROPE 9224), as Special Envoy. Stating that civil war in the country “was probably averted thanks to rapid international deployment”, the Commission stresses that it will continue to support the multilateral framework for continuing such a presence, subject to agreement by the UN Security Council. The Commission, which recently committed an additional €3 million for the 140,000 displaced people in the country, intends to support stabilisation efforts in Timor Leste, with the priority being the preparation of elections, scheduled for 2007 (see EUROPE 9209 on the framework for EU-Timor Leste cooperation in 2006-2007).