S/PV.5445 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal and Timor-Leste in which they request to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the consideration without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

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. Members of the Council have before them document S/2006/319, which contains a letter from the Secretary-General transmitting a letter from the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste. I also wish to draw the attention of Council members to documents S/2006/320, S/2006/325, S/2006/326 and S/2006/327, which contain letters from Australia, New Zealand and Portugal. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council received briefings from the Secretariat on the situation in Timor- Leste on 24 and 25 May 2006. “The Security Council expresses its deep concern at developments in Timor-Leste, recognizes the urgency of the deteriorating security situation and condemns acts of violence against people as well as destruction of property. “The Security Council urges the Government of Timor-Leste to take all necessary steps to end the violence with due respect for human rights and to restore a secure and stable environment. “The Security Council urges all parties in Timor-Leste to refrain from violence and to participate in the democratic process. “The Security Council acknowledges the request made by the Government of Timor-Leste to the Governments of Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to dispatch defence and security forces under bilateral arrangements. “The Security Council welcomes the positive responses made by the Governments concerned and fully supports their deployment of defence and security forces to urgently assist Timor-Leste in restoring and maintaining security. “The Security Council looks forward to close cooperation between the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste and the forces of the Governments concerned. “The Security Council welcomes the initiatives of the Secretary-General, including his intention to send a special envoy to Timor-Leste in order to facilitate the political dialogue. “The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to follow closely the situation in Timor-Leste and to report on developments, as necessary. “The Security Council will continue to monitor closely the situation in Timor-Leste and confirms that it will act, as appropriate.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2006/25. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.