East Timor provisions in the
Foreign Operations Appropriations bill passed by the
U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee

July 17 2003

108TH CONGRESS

Report

SENATE

1st Session 108-106

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATION BILL, 2004

Mr. MCCONNELL, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1426]

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE

Like last year, the Committee provides $25,000,000 in ESF assistance for East Timor. The Committee intends that, in a shift of emphasis from prior years, these funds will be used to address conditions of poverty through programs to support subsistence agriculture and other income generating opportunities, expand basic education and vocational training especially for unemployed youth, strengthen the judiciary, promote good governance and the sustainable use of natural resources, and improve health care and other basic human services and physical infrastructure. The Committee is aware of negotiations between East Timor and Australia over petroleum reserves, which will be of critical importance to the future economic development and security of East Timor. The Committee urges both governments to engage in good faith negotiations to resolve their maritime boundary expeditiously in accordance with international legal principles. The Committee is aware of concerns regarding accountability in East Timor for future petroleum revenues, and supports the early establishment of mechanisms to prevent corruption and ensure that these revenues are used effectively to improve the lives of the people of East Timor.