As part of the assistance being provided by the United Nations for the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in Timor-Leste in 2007, the Secretary-General has appointed a team of high-level electoral experts to verify the satisfactory conduct of each phase of the electoral process.

The members of the team are Ms. Lucinda Almeida of Portugal, Mr. Reginald Austin of Zimbabwe and Mr. Michael Maley of Australia. They will work independently of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, and will submit their findings and recommendations to the Secretary-General and the Timor-Leste authorities.

The Secretary-General sees next year's elections as an important step on the path to peace and stability in Timor-Leste, and reaffirms the determination of the United Nations to do its part in supporting a credible and transparent electoral process.