Independence celebrated.

• Author: Taylor, Russell
• Position: Peace Watch

The Democratic Republic of East Timor became the first country of the new millennium. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET) on 20 May formally handed over authority to a democratically elected government in the capital, Dili. Representatives of some ninety countries were on hand to witness the territory's independence.

"I still recall the day, 45 years ago, when my own country, Ghana, attained its independence. Tonight, I am as excited as I was then", Mr. Annan said, adding that "at this moment, we honour every citizen of East Timor who persisted in the struggle for independence".

East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao said: "Today we are a people standing on equal footing with all the other people in the world. Today we rejoice as an independent nation, governing our own destiny."

On 23 May, the Security Council recommended to the General Assembly that East Timor be admitted to membership in the United Nations.

On 31 May, the United Nations handed over key police duties and public broadcasting services to the authorities in East Timor. UN officials hailed these steps as evidence of progress in the newly independent country. "This is the beginning of the exciting and challenging process", Kamalesh Sharma, who heads the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), said at the Dili ceremony marking the handover of the Police Training College, a special police unit, and operational control of two districts from the UN Police to the East Timor Police Service. "The...