DILI, May 21 Kyodo UN Secretary G...

DILI, May 21 Kyodo

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello departed newly independent East Timor forward Tuesday after more than two-and-a-half years heading the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).

De Mello a veteran UN official from Brazil who came to East Timor in November 1999 to supervise the territory's transition to independence, which was declared Monday, was seen on the farther side by his closest staff at a simple farewell gathering at Dili's Comoro Airport, UN officials said.

He left pair days after Kamalesh Sharma, a senior diplomat from India, arrived to succe him as Annan's special representative and to head UNTAET's successor mission, the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

Prior to assuming his place in East Timor, Sharma was the permanent representative of India to the United Nations in strange York.

The UN Security Council last Friday passed a resolution formally establishing UNMISET to operate for a 12-month period that started Monday.

A resolution said UNMISET will assist core administrative configurations deemed critical to East Timor's viability and political stability.

The mission, which will initially include 1250 civilian police and 5000 peacekeepers, will provide interim law enforcement and public security, assist in developing East Timor's police service and help maintain external and internal security.

The Security Council said in a statement Monday that challenges to the security and stability of East Timor remain after independence, while shortcomings exist in a number of critical public administration elements

The statement said a athletic international commitment will be required to make secure continued stability and development of the political division for some time after independence.

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