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Security Council Extends Timor-Leste Mission Until 26 February 2010 At Current Strength, Noting Calm But Fragile Security Situation.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-27 February 2009-United Nations: Security Council Extends Timor-Leste Mission Until 26 February 2010 At Current Strength, Noting Calm But Fragile Security Situation(C)1994-2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:26022009

Security Council

6086^th Meeting (AM)

Recognizing the important role that the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) continues to play in promoting peace, stability and development in the country, the Security Council this morning decided to extend the Mission's mandate for a further 12 months, at its current authorized levels.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1867 (2009), the Council welcomed, in its preambular paragraphs, the improvements in the political and security situation in Timor-Leste, which had recovered from the 2006 crisis and the attacks on the President and Prime Minister on 11 February 2008, but noted that the current political and security situation, although generally calm, remained fragile. (For further details of the situation and prior meeting of the Security Council, see Press Release SC/9598 of 19 February.)

The Council requested UNMIT to extend the necessary support for local elections this year, responding to the request from the Government of Timor-Leste, and encouraged the international community to assist in that process. The Mission was also encouraged to support the Government in its efforts to reform the security sector, strengthen legal frameworks, and enhance civilian oversight and the accountability mechanisms of security institutions. It was also called upon to continue to support the Government in its efforts to coordinate donor cooperation in areas of institutional capacity-building.

Further by the text, the Council supported gradual resumption of policing responsibilities by the national police, through a phased approach, while emphasizing that the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) must meet the criteria mutually agreed between the Government and UNMIT to guarantee its readiness for the resumption of such responsibilities in any given district.

The Government and UNMIT were requested to cooperate with each other to implement that process.

Until the national police was fully reconstituted, the Mission would continue, through the presence of its police component and support to the PNTL, to maintain public security in the country. UNMIT, working with partners, was requested to intensify its efforts to...

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