This report summarizes the open symposium entitled “The Road to Stability in Timor-Leste: UN Peacebuilding Support and Japan's Role”, organized in FY2006 by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. In recognition of the importance of this issue to Japan, JIIA has continued to pay particular attention to peacebuilding in East Timor among post-conflict states around the world. This symposium sought to assess current conditions in East Timor and clarify the types of assistance needed to get the country back on a stable path to becoming a peaceful, democratic nation.
In particular, he focused on the peace-building assistance provided to East Timor by Japan and the United Nations in order to offer future guidelines for their participation in nation-building there. Nevertheless, we believe that this report will prove useful in understanding the current situation in Timor-Leste and the future challenges that this country will face with peacebuilding assistance. Yasushi Akashi, former Under-Secretary General of the UN, as well as the participation of practitioners and experts in helping to build peace in East Timor and other conflict situations, as well as a large audience.
Using East Timor as an example, recommendations will be offered on ways to support post-conflict states that use the Peacebuilding Commission. Panelists: Domingos Alves, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Japan Hideaki Asahi, Former Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste;.
Overview
The Road to Stability in Timor-Leste
UN Peacebuilding Support and Japan’s Role”
Structure
The symposium attracted a large audience who showed great interest in the current status and future direction of peace building in the country.
Summary
Achievements
Summary
Symposium
UN Peacebuilding Support and Japan’s Role~”
Keynote Address
A case study was conducted for the future direction of the UN and Japan decided to participate in the Peacebuilding Commission. In the case of East Timor and Kosovo, conflicts emerged in 1999, and peace-building efforts thereafter meant the creation of new states, and the scale was large and the effort complex. In the interim phase, it is important to strengthen the role of the police and the judiciary.
In the long term, it is highly likely that Timor-Leste will be independent in economic terms, thanks to its oil and gas reserves. In Japan, we tend to consider the issue of peacebuilding from two issues: nation building and peace consolidation, but in the case of Timor-Leste, these must occur in tandem, making efforts more difficult. The Peacebuilding Commission of the UN can be used and the Japanese people must discuss among themselves the role that Japan should assume in the future.
I believe that there is hope for the future of the economy of Timor-Leste and that we can find a good solution to outstanding issues in the country. In that sense, we feel over the long term that it is difficult to involve ourselves in the long term in some countries.
The Peacebuilding Commission and Timor-Leste as an Object of Commission Activities”
The third actor responsible for the failure of the peace building process is Timor-Leste itself. There is also the issue of the civilian police force in Timor-Leste, and if Japan could provide assistance in this regard, it would be very important. In Timor-Leste there are about 500 km of roads and we were part of the UN mission to engage in road repair.
The country's infrastructure was a mess and many roads were in particularly bad shape. After the withdrawal of the SDF, it was decided to leave the bulldozers and donate them to the people of East Timor. I would like to address the issue of the way forward for East Timor and the path to stability.
I feel that if Timor-Leste were to become one of the target countries for the Commission, there could be some benefit to the country. The Peacebuilding Commission in New York acts as a secretariat for the activities of the Commission.
Keynote Address
In terms of UN peacebuilding efforts, there are three main principles that the parties have agreed upon. In the early 1990s, we wondered how we could fit into the traditional UN PKO that would be sufficient. East Timor is the poorest in Southeast Asia and one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.
Before withdrawing from Timor-Leste in September 1999, the Indonesian military destroyed most of the existing infrastructure. With virtually all infrastructure destroyed, Timor-Leste has faced many of the most challenging problems of underdevelopment in the process of its reconstruction. Ensuring security and stability is one of the crucial challenges for the government and leadership of Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste has been tasked with guaranteeing and maintaining the security and stability of the newly born country. The culture of violence is one of the most visible obstacles to Timor-Leste's development. Awareness of the importance of getting rid of the culture of violence is a crucial step towards rebuilding Timor-Leste.
Whoever governs must have the vision for the state, for the needs of the people and the country. Maybe by talking about it, I think you can understand the situation or some of the peace building issues in Timor-Leste. Akashi said that the Brahimi Report regarding the status of the UN-when.
When we mention these, most countries agreed, so Japan's contribution to building peace in Timor-Leste has been appreciated. As for the history of the Peacebuilding Commission and the background, I don't think we have time today, so I'll skip that. Along with the creation of the KBP, a special fund was also created.
Ambassador Asahi introduced the woman in the NGO whose children were traumatized by the riot. If successful, the strategy of the PBC and the strategy of Japan can be aligned. We were part of the UN mission, but the roads are of course for the local residents and also UN people.
It was one of the most important missions because it was for the development of the country.
SYMPOSIUM
March 14, 2007
The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
