DILI, East Timor -- The United Nations has not been notably successful in moving from initial stabilization, infrastruc- ture reconstruction and re-establishment of local governance institutions to the more demanding goal of leaving behind self-sustaining structures of state that can implement rapid economic growth and social transformation.
Almost half of all countries emerging from conflict slide back into armed violence within five years. Some of the worst outbreaks of violence in recent times -- Angola in 1993, Rwanda in 1994 -- came after the conclusion of peace agreements.
East Timor has been a wonderful success story for the first part of immediate postconflict relief, but has barely begun the next, more arduous journey to recovery and development.