By Greg Barrow

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, has recommended that the mandate of the UN transitional administration in East Timor be extended until May this year, when the country is due to declare independence. In his latest report on the role of the administration, Mr Annan praised the country for what it had achieved, but said that close partnership between East Timor and the international community was essential for the continued stability and development of the country.

The UN Security Council is expected to debate the contents of Mr Annan's latest report on Thursday this week. In the report, Mr Annan said that with many challenges arising, this is not the time for a sudden withdrawal of the transitional administration that has guided East Timor on its road to independence.

Security issue

Security, particularly along East Timor's border zone with Indonesian-controlled West Timor, is still a problem. Although great strides have been taken in developing new national institutions such as a police force and judiciary, the continued presence of members of the UN transitional administration still provides support in areas where state control is weak or under-developed.

Mr Annan is recommending that the mandate of the UN transitional administration is extended at least until independence and he says he intends to offer new proposals later this year to extend its presence beyond that date. Perhaps the most important component of the transitional administration is its peacekeeping and security role.

UN troop numbers are likely to be reduced as independence approaches. If East Timor can reach agreement with Indonesia on the demarcation of their common border with West Timor and if the new nation can show it is able to police the border on its own, then UN troops could be reduced even more.

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