Brussels – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan assured East Timor Thursday that the UN would likely maintain a presence in the country after the end in May of its current security and aid mission.

"All peace operations come to an end in one form or another", Annan said in Brussels, adding that what was most important was "to have the certainty that what has been gained should not be lost".

He said it was "quite likely" that a "follow-up mission to assist" East Timor would remain after the current UNMISET mission ends its mandate on May 31.

He said the "how and when" of the UN's departure would be determined by the Security Council after it receives a report from a UN technical team that visited the country earlier this month. Annan also admitted the possibility of dispatching a second assessment team to Dili.

The UN, he added, was "working arduously" to ready Timorese police and defense forces so the fledgling country could assure its own security.

East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao, who met with Annan in Brussels during a European Parliament awards ceremony honoring the UN, reiterated Dili's concern that the UN maintain both a security and civilian presence in the country beyond May.

Gusmao told journalists it was "desireable" for the UN to maintain some form of security force in East Timor, "even if smaller" than the current mission.

Despite the country's relative calm since gaining independence om May 20, 2002, remnants of anti-independence militias remain in neighboring Indonesian West Timor and several outlaw bands operate in border areas.

The Indonesian military commander of West Timor warned earlier this week there were signs the armed bands were seeking to mobilize former militias to "destabilize" East Timor following the UN withdrawal.