Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring May 6, 2004

Timor Post

World Bank will continue to support managers

During a ceremony for the launch of the Management Training for the Small Enterprise, the World Bank team leader for the Small Enterprise Project, Bernard Drum, said that the World Bank will continue supporting the managers and the people of Timor-Leste and its development. Mr Drum said the World Bank is happy to work with the Government of Timor-Leste, and that the World Bank will feel its mission has been accomplished when the community's living standards have improved.

Deficit under control, says PM

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that the measures taken by the Government to improve domestic revenues and restrain expenditures was able to reduce the deficit from USD$ 130 million to nothing. The Prime Minister said that he was surprised with the figure he was given of only 3% reduction of the deficit, and called an urgent meeting with all departments to find that 3% was incorrect but close to 80%. The Prime Minister said that sometimes information does not circulate throughout the Government Departments and the result is misinformation given to the people.

STL

Timor-Leste has one of Asia's freest Presses

Two years after gaining independence, Timor-Leste has one of Asia's freest presses, an International watchdog group said. Attacks on journalists are "extremely rare" in the former Indonesian province, and the country's press legislation is "among the most liberal in Asia," Paris based Reporters Without Borders said in a report provided to the Associated Press. Despite the praise East Timor has won for its press freedom, spats have occasionally flared between the government and media in Asia's newest nation. Officials have accused the main radio and TV broadcasters of turning their stations into "an instrument of propaganda against the government." The criticism followed media coverage of a conflict between an opposition politician and the ruling party. The report from Reporters Without Borders said the present situation showed significant progress in the area.

Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office Ph: 723 0554 Tel: 332 4649 Email: ffilipe@worldbank.org

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