TIMOR-LESTE: US ASSISTANCE AND BUDGET TRANSPARENCY

UNCLAS DILI 000108 SIPDIS FOR EEB/IFD/OMA - J.JACOBY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PREL TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE: US ASSISTANCE AND BUDGET TRANSPARENCY REF: STATE 28885 ¶1. Keyed to questions contained in reftel para 3, please find Embassy Dili's responses with regard to U.S. assistance and budget transparency on the part of the Governmment of Timor-Leste. ¶2. Q1: IS THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO RECEIVE OR IS IT ALREADY RECEIVING U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FUNDED USING FY 09 FUNDS? THERE IS NO DIRECT TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO GOVERNMENT, BUT USAID DOES WORK WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. IN FY09, USAID WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. THIS INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES: (A) PROVIDING AN INTERNATIONAL ADVISOR TO THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE; (B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN LAND TITLING TO THE NATIONAL LAND AND PROPERTY UNIT, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE; AND (C) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Q2: IS THE HOST COUNTRY'S BUDGET PUBLICLY AVAILABLE? YES, HOST COUNTRY BUDGET IS PUBLICY AVAILABLE AND FOLLOWS A STRICT PROCESS OUTLINED BELOW: ONCE APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT AND PROMULGATED BY THE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNMENT OF TIMOR-LESTE'S (GOTL) ANNUAL BUDGET IS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE, THE JORNAL DA REPUBLICA. THE PROCESS FOR APPROVING THE BUDGET IS OUTLINED IN THE NEWSPAPER. THE BUDGET IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WEBSITE. THE 2009 PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WERE CARRIED LIVE ON LOCAL RADIO. ¶3. (U) THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ALSO PUBLISHES QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL BUDGET EXECUTION REPORTS WHILE THE BANKING AND PAYMENTS AUTHORITY (BPA),TIMOR-LESTE'S QUASI-CENTRAL BANK THAT SERVES AS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE PETROLEUM FUND, PUBLISHES QUARTERLY REPORTS ON THE FUND'S ASSETS. THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PETROLEUM FUND. ALL OF THESE ARE AVAILABLE VIA THE INTERNET. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOST COUNTRY BUDGET, SEE THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WEBSITE AT: WWW.MOF.GOV.TL Q: ARE INCOMES AND EXPENDITURES INCLUDED IN THE PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE BUDGET? YES, INCOMES AND EXPENDITURES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE BUDGET. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WEBSITE, WWW.MOF.GOV.TL. EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PUBLISH THE BUDGET IN THREE LANGUAGES: TETUM, PORTUGUESE, AND ENGLISH. RECTOR