United Nations Security Council Resolution 1236
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1236, adopted unanimously on May 7, 1999, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor Leste) including 384
(1975) and 389
(1976), the Council welcomed an agreement between Indonesia
and Portugal
on the future of East Timor and a proposed United Nations presence to assist with the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
scheduled for August 1999.
The Security Council noted the sustained efforts of the governments of both Indonesia and Portugal since July 1983 to find an internationally acceptable solution to the question of East Timor. It welcomed progress made at the last round of talks on May 5, 1999 under the auspicies of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
which lead to a series of agreements. Agreements between the United Nations and the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal concerning security arrangements for the referendum
were also welcomed.
The resolution welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations presence in East Timor as soon as possible to assist in the implementation of the agreements through conducting the referendum and making police advisers available to the Indonesian police. It stressed the importance of reporting on the outcome of the referendum on autonomy
or independence
, the responsibility of Indonesia to maintain peace and security in East Timor and ensuring that the United Nations could complete all tasks in the region.
The Council welcomed the establishment of a Trust Fund to allow Member States to make voluntary contributions to finance the United Nations presence in East Timor. The Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council by May 24, 1999 on the implementation of the agreements and to make recommendations on a future United Nations presence; a decision would then be taken by the Security Council.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1236, adopted unanimously on May 7, 1999, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(Timor Leste) including 384
United Nations Security Council Resolution 384
United Nations Security Council Resolution 384, adopted on December 22, 1975, noted statements from the representatives of Portugal, Indonesia and East Timor and recognized the right of the people of East Timor to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Charter...
(1975) and 389
United Nations Security Council Resolution 389
United Nations Security Council Resolution 389, adopted on April 22, 1976, reaffirmed the right of the people of East Timor to self-determination. The Council called upon all states to respect the territorial integrity of East Timor and upon the Government of Indonesia to withdraw all of its forces...
(1976), the Council welcomed an agreement between Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on the future of East Timor and a proposed United Nations presence to assist with the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum
The East Timorese independence referendum was a referendum which was held throughout East Timor on 30 August 1999. The referendum's origins lay with the request made by the President of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 27 January 1999, for...
scheduled for August 1999.
The Security Council noted the sustained efforts of the governments of both Indonesia and Portugal since July 1983 to find an internationally acceptable solution to the question of East Timor. It welcomed progress made at the last round of talks on May 5, 1999 under the auspicies of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
which lead to a series of agreements. Agreements between the United Nations and the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal concerning security arrangements for the referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
were also welcomed.
The resolution welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations presence in East Timor as soon as possible to assist in the implementation of the agreements through conducting the referendum and making police advisers available to the Indonesian police. It stressed the importance of reporting on the outcome of the referendum on autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
or independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, the responsibility of Indonesia to maintain peace and security in East Timor and ensuring that the United Nations could complete all tasks in the region.
The Council welcomed the establishment of a Trust Fund to allow Member States to make voluntary contributions to finance the United Nations presence in East Timor. The Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council by May 24, 1999 on the implementation of the agreements and to make recommendations on a future United Nations presence; a decision would then be taken by the Security Council.
See also
- 1999 East Timorese crisis1999 East Timorese crisisThe 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by anti-independence militants on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence erupted after a majority of eligible voters in the population of East Timor chose independence from...
- Indonesian occupation of East TimorIndonesian occupation of East TimorIndonesia occupied East Timor from December 1975 to October 1999. After centuries of Portuguese colonial rule in East Timor, a 1974 coup in Portugal led to decolonization among its former colonies, creating instability in East Timor and leaving its future uncertain...
- International Force for East Timor
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- United Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorUnited Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorThe United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, from its establishment on October 25, 1999 until its independence on May 20, 2002 following the outcome of the East Timor Special...