from UNMISET

Dili, September 30 2003

Daily Media Review

TL Parliament Approved Immigration Legislation

On Monday the National Parliament approved the Immigration and Asylum legislation, which was vetoed by President Gusmão three months ago for its unconstitutionality. Prior to Monday's voting, the majority of Fretilin MPs had publicly affirmed that they had no intention of altering the document and return it to the President for promulgation, reported the Portuguese news agency Lusa. Gusmão was quoted by the media as saying that he first vetoed the legislation according to the Constitution of the country, contrary to reports that he is trying to create a conflict within the Parliament. The President has eight days to take a decision on the issue. The diploma was presented to him on Monday, the same day he departed to Singapore. (TP, STL, Lusa)

Portuguese Secretary of State in Japan to Discuss Aid to TL

The Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation was scheduled to meet with his Japanese counterpart today (Tuesday), to analyze the possibility of Japanese aid to Timor-Leste after the departure of the UN mission, reported Lusa. António Lourenço dos Santos said that Timor-Leste is currently the "main concern" in terms of cooperation, because it is essential to "find bilateral assistance" to the countryafter the end of the UN mission, scheduled for May next year. Santos is expected to visit Timor-Leste in November. (Lusa)

Ramos-Horta Addressed SC on Guinea-Bissau

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on Monday about the coup d'Etat in Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries said that the military intervention had been seemingly welcome by the people of Guinea-Bissau. He pointed that not a single shot was fired and there were pledges of a return to normalcy. Ramos-Horta added that he is confident that the current Transitional Government had no wish to remain in power, and had been genuinely motivated by socio-economic conditions. They deserved a change, he said, while calling for urgent economic assistance and the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Peace-building Support Office. (UN)

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