E.Timor approaches independence

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE: East Timor is likely to emerge an independent nation either late this year or in early 2001, a United Nations' Development Programme (UNDP) official, Mr. Reske-Nielsen, said on Monday in Bangkok. The official was quoted as saying that while East Timor was firmly set on the path of independence it will still require assistance from the international community. Elections are scheduled to be held in East Timor, now being governed by the U.N., on August 30 this year. The elections to a Constituent Assembly will lead to the drafting of a new Constitution within 90 days following which the Assembly will transform itself into Parliament. ``Most people expect there will be another election to ensure independence, probably a presidential election. And the Constituent Assembly would then transform itself into the first Parliament,'' Mr. Reske-Nielsen, UNDP's resident representative in East Timor, said. He said that East Timor, which won independence through a referendum on August 30, 1999, faced shortages of qualified persons to run its new Government.

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Section  : International
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