East Timor talks enter new phase<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan has proved himself to be quite
\nactive in attempting to settle the issue of East Timor.<\/p>\n
His special envoy has already approached a number of parties to
\ngather information for the upcoming tripartite talks, which are
\nto be attended by representatives of Indonesia, the UN and
\nPortugal.<\/p>\n
Portugal called the last meeting, which was held in December
\n1996 under the auspices of the then-secretary-general Boutros-
\nBoutros Ghali.<\/p>\n
A few days ago Jamsheed Maker, the UN special envoy, visited
\nEast Timor, where he met with local leaders. He was able to
\nattempt a firsthand assessment of the situation in East Timor,
\neven though he was aboard a helicopter for some of the time.<\/p>\n
It is to be hoped that the upcoming tripartite talks can yield
\nsome concrete results which are acceptable to all parties.
\nPortugal should no longer have a say over its former colony and
\nits people, which it abandoned in a state of civil strife.
\nDisregarding all ethical standards, Portugal left the people to
\nsettle their own problems while the territory was in a state of
\ncivil disorder.<\/p>\n
It is to be hoped that the results will be final, acceptable
\nand binding. Obviously, to this end the information gathered by
\nthe UN secretary-general's special envoy will receive due
\nconsideration.<\/p>\n
The existing realities -- whether favorable or otherwise --
\ncannot be concealed. With those realities as a foundation, an
\nedifice must be built that will be beneficial for innumerable
\npeople until well into the future.<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-talks-enter-new-phase-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }