Subject: AFP: East Timor referendum budget to total
53 million dollars
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 10:25:56 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
East Timor referendum budget to total 53 million dollars
UNITED NATIONS, May 20 (AFP) - UN chief Kofi Annan indicated Thursday that he expected
that some 53 million dollars would be required for the United Nations to conduct a
historic vote on the future of East Timor.
In a report to the UN General Assembly, Annan asked the 185-nation body to authorize
45.7 million dollars for the operation, which he said did not include funding for civilian
police.
Annan said that according to preliminary indications, he expected to ask for an
additional 7.4 million dollars for the deployment of up to 300 civilian police who are to
assist Indonesian security forces.
Annan said that he would field 217 international staff and some 4,000 local staff to
conduct the August 8 poll in which the East Timorese are to decide on whether they will
accept wide-ranging autonomy within Indonesia or seek independence.
An advance team of UN personnel is already in East Timor, and the mission is due to be
headed by Briton Ian Martin.
Annan is expected to submit a report to the UN Security Council on Monday detailing
exact requirements so that the council can formally authorize the UN Assistance Mission in
East Timor.
East Timor is a former Portuguese colony which was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and
annexed the following year.
Indonesia and Portugal signed landmark agreements here on May 5 on the autonomy plan
that is to be submitted to the East Timorese voters, and on arrangements for the poll.
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