Mission in East Timor Established to Conduct 'Popular Consultation' on Territory's Status.

The Security Council on 11 June established the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) to organize and conduct a popular consultation to determine the Territory's future status, in keeping with the 5 May Agreement between Indonesia and Portugal, and the two Governments' Agreements with the United Nations. The consultation, initially scheduled for 8 August, was later delayed for three weeks for security concerns and logistical problems.

By adopting unanimously resolution 1246 (1999), the Council also approved the modalities for the consultation which will ascertain, on the basis of a direct, secret and universal ballot, whether the East Timorese people accept the proposed constitutional framework providing for a special autonomy for East Timor within the unitary Republic of Indonesia, or reject its proposal, leading to the Territory's separation from Indonesia.

As it welcomed the Secretary-General's intention to conclude a status of mission agreement with Indonesia as soon as possible and urged the early conclusion of negotiations for a timely deployment of UNAMET, the Council endorsed the Secretary-General's proposal that the mission be comprised of political, electoral and information components.

It also authorized the deployment within UNAMET of up to 280 civilian police officers to act as advisers to the Indonesian Police in the discharge of their duties, and 50 military liaison officers to maintain contact with the Indonesian Armed Forces.

The Council stressed again Indonesia's responsibility to maintain peace and security in East Timor to ensure the integrity of the consultation and the security of international staff and observers, and welcomed that country's decision to establish a ministerial team to monitor the popular consultation.

In condemning all acts of violence from whatever quarter and calling for an end to such acts, the Council urged that every effort be made to make the Commission on Peace and Stability operative, stressing in particular the need for the Indonesian authorities to provide protection for Commission members, in cooperation with UNAMET. The Commission - established on 21 April by representatives of the pro-independence and pro-integration sides, but not yet operational - was...