For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 31, 2001
Presidential Letter on East Timor
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
August 31, 2001
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
In my report to the Congress of March 2, 2001, I provided information
regarding the continued deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in support of East
Timor's transition to independence. I am providing this supplemental
report, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to help ensure that the
Congress is kept fully informed regarding U.S. Armed Forces in East Timor.
As you are aware, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1272 established the
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) on
October 25, 1999. The UNTAET's mandate includes providing security and
maintaining law and order throughout East Timor, establishing an effective
administration, ensuring the coordination and delivery of humanitarian
assistance, and supporting capacity-building for self-government. The
United States currently contributes three military observers to UNTAET.
These personnel are assigned to the United Nations pursuant to the United
Nations Participation Act (Public Law 79-264) and operate under U.N.
operational control.
The United States also maintains a military presence in East Timor that is
separate from UNTAET. This includes the U.S. Support Group East Timor
(USGET), comprised of approximately 20 U.S. personnel, including a security
detachment, which facilitates and coordinates U.S. military activities in
East Timor, and a rotational presence of U.S. forces through temporary
deployments to East Timor. These rotational presence operations include
monthly U.S. Navy ship visits, and deployments of military medical and
engineering teams that conduct humani-tarian and civic assistance
activities in areas critical to East Timor's citizens. United States
forces assigned to USGET and those conducting rotational presence
operations operate under U.S. command and control and U.S. rules of
engagement. The United Nations, and Australia as a leading contributor to
UNTAET, have indicated that East Timor has benefited greatly from U.S.
military deployments to and engagement activities in East Timor. Both the
United Nations and Australia strongly support continued U.S. presence in
East Timor.
At this point, U.S. rotational presence operations are envisioned to
continue through December 2001. We are reviewing options for our military
presence in 2002. My objective is to reduce the rotational presence
operations, as well as to redeploy USGET, as circumstances permit, giving
due regard to the situation on the ground and the views of our friends and
allies in the region, including Australia.
I have authorized the continuation of this action pursuant to my
constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander
in Chief and Chief Executive. I am providing this report as part of my
efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
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