S/PV.4368 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council recalls its previous resolutions and the statements of its President on the situation in East Timor. “The Security Council warmly welcomes the successful staging on 30 August 2001 of the elections for East Timor's first Constituent Assembly, in particular the orderly and peaceful conduct of the elections and the very high voter turnout, which demonstrated the wish of the East Timorese people to establish a full participatory democracy. In that regard, the Council recognizes with appreciation the important role of the East Timorese leadership and welcomes the cooperation extended by the Government of Indonesia during the election period. “The Security Council expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor for facilitating a smooth and representative election process. The Security Council calls on all parties to fully respect and implement the election results, which provide the basis for a broad-based Constituent Assembly. The Security Council looks forward to the establishment on 15 September of the Constituent Assembly and the new Cabinet within the framework of resolution 1272 (1999). The Security Council calls upon all parties to work together to draft a constitution which reflects the will of the East Timorese people and to cooperate for the successful completion of the final steps towards independence, in a complex process of stabilization in East Timor, which will take some time and will involve many actors. “The Security Council reiterates the importance of a substantial international presence in East Timor post-independence. “The Security Council looks forward to receiving the Secretary-General's October report focusing on the transition and post-independence periods.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2001/23. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.