Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, 10
October 2006
Dear Mike,
I am writing to inform you that, further to
the Foreign Secretary's announcement to Parliament in 2004 that
our Embassy in East Timor would close by the end of 2006, it has
now been decided that the Post will close on 13 October.
Our Embassy in Dili is one of a number of Posts to
be closed following a review in 2004 of the UK's international
priorities, and the role of the FCO in achieving them.
We had intended to close the Embassy on 14 July.
However, due to recent unrest, the Foreign Secretary decided to
postpone closure by three months to provide time for the UN Security
Council to decide on the mandate for the new UN Mission to East
Timor. The new mandate was agreed on 25 August and the country
is now stable.
As agreed at the time of the original decision, the
responsibility for East Timor will shift to the British Embassy
in Jakarta from this date. An Honorary Consul will also be appointed.
The Government of East Timor has been informed.
Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP
Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs
| 
