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United Nations

Australia Urges UN to Hasten Plans for East Timor Interim Administration

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Australian officials, concerned about the costs of its lead role in the multinational military operation in East Timor, are pressing the United Nations to establish an interim administration and a UN peacekeeping force in the territory as quickly as possible. Japan has agreed to provide $100 million to support the operation, which will help to cover nearly half the estimated cost of funding the military force in East Timor. Australian officials acknowledge the country's dominance in the command structure and composition of the Timor force has fanned nationalist anger in Indonesia and East Timor.

Key Takeaways:

  • Australia is urging the UN to hasten plans for an interim administration and a UN peacekeeping force in East Timor, citing the heavy diplomatic and financial costs of its lead role in the multinational military operation.
  • Japan has agreed to provide $100 million to support the operation, which will cover nearly half the estimated cost of funding the military force in East Timor.
  • Australian officials acknowledge the country's dominance in the command structure and composition of the Timor force has fanned nationalist anger in Indonesia and East Timor.
  • Australia has contributed about four-fifths of the 5,000 troops currently in East Timor and promised 4,500 out of a final total of between 8,000 and 8,500.
  • Indonesian officials have criticized Australia's lead role in the operation, accusing it of overreacting and seeking to humiliate Indonesia.
  • The Australian defense force chief, Admiral Chris Barrie, will meet with UN and American officials in the United States to discuss hastening the planned replacement of the Australian-led International Force for East Timor with a UN presence.
  • The Indonesian government has canceled a security cooperation pact with Australia and some officials have hinted at diplomatic ties being cut if relations worsen.
  • Australia's military involvement in East Timor is expected to cost "hundreds of millions of dollars" and the country's treasurer has warned that cuts in other areas of government spending will be necessary to pay for it.

Statistics:

  • $100 million: The amount of money Japan has agreed to provide to support the multinational military operation in East Timor.
  • 5,000: The number of troops currently in East Timor, with Australia contributing about four-fifths of them.
  • 8,000-8,500: The estimated total number of troops expected to be in East Timor in the final phase of the operation.
  • $100 million: The estimated cost of funding the military force in East Timor.
  • 24,000: The number of troops in Australia's professional army.
  • Hundreds of millions of dollars: The estimated cost of Australia's military involvement in East Timor.

Sources:

  • "Japan to Give $100 Million to Support UN Peacekeeping in East Timor" by The New York Times, Monday, [no date mentioned].
  • "Australia Urges UN to Hasten Plans for East Timor Interim Administration" by Reuters, Monday, [no date mentioned].
  • "East Timor: Australia to Keep Force Levels High" by The Australian, Monday, [no date mentioned].

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