United Nations Security Council Resolution 1704
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1704, adopted unanimously on August 25, 2006, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor-Leste), particularly resolutions 1599
(2005), 1677
(2006), 1690
(2006) and 1703
(2006), the Council established the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) for an initial period of six months.
The passage of the resolution saw UNMIT replace the United Nations Office in East Timor (UNOTIL), the fifth mission in seven years.
, Malaysia, Portugal
and New Zealand
in an attempt to restore stability. It also held the view that parliamentary
and presidential elections
were a step forward in strengthening the country's democracy
.
Meanwhile, the Council reaffirmed the need for accountability for crimes committed in East Timor during violence in 1999
.
and was given the following mandate
:
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was urged to conclude a status of forces agreement
with the East Timorese government. Meanwhile, East Timor was called upon to ensure free and fair elections. Finally, the Secretary-General was required to report on developments on the ground, including ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance sexual exploitation
policy; in this context, further changes to the mission's mandate or composition would be considered.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1704, adopted unanimously on August 25, 2006, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(Timor-Leste), particularly resolutions 1599
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1599
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1599, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2005, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly resolutions 1543 and 1573 , the Council established the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste to follow on from the United Nations Mission of...
(2005), 1677
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1677
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1677, adopted unanimously on May 12, 2006, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly Resolution 1599 , the Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste until June 20, 2006.The resolution was adopted...
(2006), 1690
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1690
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1690, adopted unanimously on June 20, 2006, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly resolutions 1599 and 1677 , the Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste for two months until August 20,...
(2006) and 1703
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1703
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1703, adopted unanimously on August 18, 2006, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly resolutions 1599 , 1677 and 1690 , the Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste until August 25, 2006.The...
(2006), the Council established the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) for an initial period of six months.
The passage of the resolution saw UNMIT replace the United Nations Office in East Timor (UNOTIL), the fifth mission in seven years.
Observations
The Council praised East Timor for attempts to resolve the political conflicts, but it was concerned at the fragility of the situation. There was full support for troops sent in by AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Malaysia, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in an attempt to restore stability. It also held the view that parliamentary
East Timorese parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in East Timor on 30 June 2007. Although a narrow plurality was achieved by the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor , a coalition involving the next three largest groups formed a government...
and presidential elections
East Timorese presidential election, 2007
The 2007 East Timorese presidential election involved two separate votes. The first, on 9 April 2007 eliminated six of the eight nominees. The remaining two candidates, current Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta and Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor President Francisco Guterres, faced...
were a step forward in strengthening the country's democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
Meanwhile, the Council reaffirmed the need for accountability for crimes committed in East Timor during violence in 1999
1999 East Timorese crisis
The 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by anti-independence militants on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence erupted after a majority of eligible voters in the population of East Timor chose independence from...
.
Acts
The resolution established UNMIT for a period of six months, with the intention of further renewals. It would consist of up to 1,608 police personnel with 34 military liaison and staff officers. The mission was to be headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-GeneralSpecial Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
and was given the following mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
:
- Offer support to the government;
- Support the upcoming elections;
- Support the police in restoring order;
- Establish a presence in border districts;
- Assist the government in reform of the military;
- Strengthen state institutions;
- Strengthen human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
institutions and to promote justiceJusticeJustice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and reconciliation; - Facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistanceHumanitarian aidHumanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
; - Co-ordinate with United Nations agencies, funds, programmes and donors;
- Consider gender equality and the needs of children in the mission mandate;
- Provide information to the general public, particularly regarding the 2007 elections;
- Ensure the safety of the East Timorese people;
- Monitor progress in all the above areas.
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was urged to conclude a status of forces agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
with the East Timorese government. Meanwhile, East Timor was called upon to ensure free and fair elections. Finally, the Secretary-General was required to report on developments on the ground, including ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance sexual exploitation
Sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian response
The sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian workers first came to public attention with the release of a report in February 2002 of a joint assessment mission looking into the issue...
policy; in this context, further changes to the mission's mandate or composition would be considered.
See also
- 2006 East Timorese crisis
- East Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumEast Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumThe East Timorese independence referendum was a referendum which was held throughout East Timor on 30 August 1999. The referendum's origins lay with the request made by the President of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 27 January 1999, for...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1701 to 1800 (2006 – 2008)
- Operation AstuteOperation AstuteOperation Astute is an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It is currently headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater...