Timor-Leste
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The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which expires on 26 February. There is some interest in looking into UNMIT’s mandate in light of the Council visit last November. It is unclear whether adjustments will be necessary.
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The Council is expected to hold an open debate on Timor-Leste on 13 December. The meeting is expected to underscore the Council’s support for Timor-Leste and its ongoing concern with the fragile security situation.
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In late November, Council members are expected to undertake a field mission to Timor-Leste. It seems that after the period of violence and instability in 2006-07, the formation of the new Timorese government has encouraged the Council to accept the importance of displaying, on the ground, evidence of an enduring commitment to Timor-Leste.
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The Council is likely to discuss the current situation in Timor-Leste and the future of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), in the context of the new Secretary-General's report and violent incidents in August. The report was due by the end of August, and at press time it seemed likely that it would recommend a continuation of UNMIT's current size and mandate for the time being.
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Later in August, the Council is due to receive a report from the Secretary-General with recommendations on the future of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). It is unclear whether Council members will want to address in August the issue of the mandate and size of the mission in the post-election period.
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The Council will pay close attention to developments as the runoff elections in Timor-Leste, scheduled for 8 May, approach. A statement is possible, particularly if the security situation deteriorates. The mandate of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) expires on 26 February 2008.
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The Council will receive the Secretary-General's report on Timor-Leste by early February, and it will consider renewal of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste before its mandate expires on 25 February. Approval of the extension is expected.
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On 27 October, the Council will hold consultations on Timor-Leste. Members are expected to receive a briefing on the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), established under resolution 1704 in August, and the arrangements regarding the Australian-led international forces. The Secretary-General's recommendations on this are still unknown.
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No formal action on Timor-Leste is expected for October at press time. But the Council will receive two reports: the report of the Special Commission of Inquiry on facts and circumstances leading to the recent crisis, due by 7 October; and the Secretary-General's report on arrangements between the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and the international security forces, due 25 October (but it may be discussed only in November).
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The Council is expected to adopt a resolution on the future of the UN presence in Timor-Leste on Friday, 18 August. The deadline for the expiry of the current UN presence is 20 August. Members are currently considering a draft resolution authorising the creation of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
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In August the Council will decide on the shape of a new UN mission in Timor- Leste. The Council is expecting a report from the Secretary-General with recommendations regarding the new mandate, based on the conclusions of an assessment mission led by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Timor-Leste, Ian Martin, as well as input from the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the country, Sukehiro Hasegawa.
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The Council is likely to be devoting more attention to Timor-Leste in June than expected. In May, it postponed consideration of the UN political presence there until 20 June due to uncertainty about the security situation in the country. But in the days following that decision, violence rapidly escalated and the government requested Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal to send troops to help calm the situation.
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The Council is expected to discuss the future of the UN political presence in Timor-Leste prior to the expiry of the mandate of the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) on 20 May.
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The President of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmão, has asked to address the Council on 23 January. The immediate focus of the meeting is a report from the Secretary-General on the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) and a briefing from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa.
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The Council expects the Secretary-General's progress report on the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) in December. It is also expecting a report from the Secretary-General on justice and reconciliation in Timor, but it is unclear when that will emerge.
