10-12-2004 13:12:00. Fonte LUSA. Notícia SIR-6585020 Temas:

East Timor: FM Ramos Horta asks UN for 'one more year' of engagement

Dili, Dec. 10 (Lusa) - Foreign Minister José Ramos Horta, describing peace in East Timor as "very fragile", urged the United Nations Friday to extend its UNMISET mission in the country for one year.

"Give us one more year and I promise I will not ask again" for a new extension, Ramos Horta told a Dili conference called by UNMISET to discuss UN reforms and its engagement with East Timor.

"I hope the (UN) Security Council, which has been so sensible, will understand that much progress has been achieved and that peace, while a reality today, remains very fragile", he said.

The foreign minister underlined that an extended UN mission could be pruned back in its civilian, police and military components.

On Nov. 16, the Security Council approved a final six-month extension of UNMISET through next May 20, the third anniversary of te country's independence.

EL/SAS.

Lusa