International
U.N. extends E. Timor mission
By Sridhar Krishnaswami
United Nations: The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the world body's peace-keeping and nation-building activities in East Timor until the formal declaration of Independence on May 20. The Council, in a resolution, also said proposals for a successor mission to the current Transitional Administration in East Timor, known as UNTAET, would be in place before May 20. The peace-keeping forces which were 8,000 at one time, will gradually be cut down in size to no more than 5,000 besides some 1,200 police personnel and 100 administrators, it is said. There is pressure even within the United Nations that it will have to be involved in East Timor for some more time, perhaps until 2004, given the political and economic fragility of the former Portuguese colony which declared independence from Indonesia in 1999. If the U.N. does formally decide to stay on until 2004 that mission would have to be funded by all members.
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