United Nations Security Council Resolution 1473
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1473, adopted unanimously on April 4, 2003, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor
(Timor-Leste), particularly Resolution 1410
(2002), the Council adjusted the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
(UNMISET) to improve its capacity to train the National Police of East Timor
in light of the security situation, and slowed the downsizing of the operation.
The Security Council welcomed progress East Timor had made with UNMISET assistance, stressing the priority of improving the capabilities of the national police and noting continuing challenges to the country's security and stability. It decided that composition and strength of the UNMISET police component and its downsizing would include the following measures:
inclusion of an international unit for one year; provision of additional training capacity in relation to crowd control, border security and tactical operations; emphasis on human rights
and rule of law
; retaining a monitoring and advisory presence in areas under the control of the East Timor police; preparations for the transfer of authority to the East Timor police force.
The resolution decided that the downsizing of the military component of UNMISET until December 2003 would be adjusted so that the number of military peacekeepers
would be reduced from 1,750 more slowly than envisaged in Resolution 1410. By January 2004, 325 officers would be still present in the country. Two battalion
s would also be retained.
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to report by May 20, 2003 on a revised schedule for the downsizing of UNMISET and to keep the Council informed of developments in East Timor. Finally, the East Timorese government was asked to co-operate with UNMISET in the implementation of police and military strategies.
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"....
1473, adopted unanimously on April 4, 2003, 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), particularly Resolution 1410
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1410
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1410, adopted unanimously on May 17, 2002, after recalling previous resolutions on East Timor , particularly resolutions 1272 , 1338 and 1392 , the Council established the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor to replace the United Nations...
(2002), the Council adjusted the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
The United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor was established on 20 May 2002, the same day which East Timor became an internationally recognized independent state and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor came to an end.Military and police forces from contributing...
(UNMISET) to improve its capacity to train the National Police of East Timor
National Police of East Timor
-History:The PNTL was established in May 2002 by the United Nations, before sovereignty was passed to the new state, with a mandate to provide security and maintain law and order throughout the country, and to enable the rapid development of a credible, professional and impartial police service...
in light of the security situation, and slowed the downsizing of the operation.
The Security Council welcomed progress East Timor had made with UNMISET assistance, stressing the priority of improving the capabilities of the national police and noting continuing challenges to the country's security and stability. It decided that composition and strength of the UNMISET police component and its downsizing would include the following measures:
inclusion of an international unit for one year; provision of additional training capacity in relation to crowd control, border security and tactical operations; emphasis on human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
; retaining a monitoring and advisory presence in areas under the control of the East Timor police; preparations for the transfer of authority to the East Timor police force.
The resolution decided that the downsizing of the military component of UNMISET until December 2003 would be adjusted so that the number of military peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
would be reduced from 1,750 more slowly than envisaged in Resolution 1410. By January 2004, 325 officers would be still present in the country. Two battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s would also be retained.
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...
was requested to report by May 20, 2003 on a revised schedule for the downsizing of UNMISET and to keep the Council informed of developments in East Timor. Finally, the East Timorese government was asked to co-operate with UNMISET in the implementation of police and military strategies.
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...
- East Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumEast Timor Special Autonomy ReferendumThe 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...
- 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...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- 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...