UN Update

The Security Council met on Monday to discuss extending UNMIT's mandate. While my internet connection was too poor to watch the session unfold, I was able to read transcripts the next day. No decision has yet been made, but there is general consensus among the key players - including Lusaphone countries, Australia and the UN special representative in Timor Leste - that the mission should continue for another full year.

Interestingly, many of the statements highlighted the withdraw of the former UN mission as one of the main reasons for the eruption of violence in April and May 2006. For now, UN member states appear to be taking the long view. As part of this shift in thinking, the UN recently completed a security agreement with Timor Leste and Australia. I would not be surprised if the UN, if not this mission, stays through the 2012 election cycle.

Regardless of what is diplomats are spouting in New York, UN money is flowing unabated into Timor Leste. Procurement officers must be feeling pretty confident about the mission's longevity; on Tuesday a cargo ship came into the port from Singapore with 20+ glinting white Toyota Prado SUVs strapped to the deck and perched on top of containers. The UN stickers were already afixed to their flanks, ready to rumble out onto the pot-holed streets of Dili.

Phote: Kate in Com (East East East road trip).