THE IRISH TIMES FRIDAY OCTOBER 20TH 2006

LENIHAN COMMITS €1m MORE TO TIMOR-LESTE

DEAGLAN de BREADUN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT

The Government is donating an additional €1.4million to Timor-Leste (East Timor) as development assistance, Minister of State for Development Co-operation Conor Lenihan announced yesterday.

The funds are being channelled through Irish Aid, the development co-operation division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. This latest allocation brings the total level of assistance from Irish Aid to Timor-Leste this year to more that €6.5 million according to a statement issued by the department.

The announcement coincides with the report of a United Nations Special Commission of Inquiry into the incidents and circumstances which contributed to the recent crisis in Timor-Leste.

" Following the unrest in April and May I spoke to prime minister Ramos Horta and assured him of Ireland's continuing commitment to provide support," Minister Lenihan said. " I also set in train a review of our aid programme to ensure that it addresses the key underlying causes of the instability and makes a positive impact on the lives of the people of Timor-Leste."

In 2003, Timor -Leste was designated the Republic's first programme country or priority country in Asia for the purpose of humanitarian aid. The Republic's long-term development programme is intended to assist the government and civil society to reduce poverty by delivering essential social services and strengthening governance and human rights.