FED: Howard welcomes Philippine general to command in Timor

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-1999
FED: Howard welcomes Philippine general to command in Timor

CANBERRA, Dec 30 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today welcomed the appointment of
a Filipino officer to command the UN peacekeeping operation in East Timor.

Second in command will be an Australian, Major-General Mike Smith.

Mr Howard said General Jaime de los Santos would head the United Nations peacekeeping
force under the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) which replaces
the Australian-led multinational force Interfet early next year.

He said Interfet had largely restored peace and security in East Timor under the outstanding
leadership of its Australian commander Major-General Peter Cosgrove.

"I warmly welcome the decision by the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr Kofi
Annan to appoint General de los Santos of the Philippines as commander of the UN peacekeeping
force in East Timor," Mr Howard said in a statement.

"Australia will continue to play a major role. I am very pleased that Australia has
been asked to provide a deputy commander to General de los Santos."

General de los Santos most recently served as superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy.

Major-General Smith has held various positions within the army including commander
of the Townsville-based 3 Brigade. In September he was appointed to New York to liaise
with the UN over the Timor deployment.

The announcement ends widespread speculation in which both men were named as possible contenders.

However, the announcement was apparently delayed by the need for a clear line of command
with de los Santos only recently promoted from Major-general to General.

Mr Howard said Australia's troop commitment to East Timor would fall from its current
level of around 5,000 with the changeover from Interfet to the peacekeeping operation.

"But our contribution will remain significant," he said.

"Our contribution will involve more than 1,500 soldiers including a battalion group,
headquarters staff and a medical element.

"We have also offered 400 soldiers in a logistics team to help with the transition
from Interfet to the UN force.

"We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the UN and all those working
in East Timor."

AAP mb/cjh

KEYWORD: TIMOR AUST UN

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