EU ambassadors to visit E. Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three European Union ambassadors will arrive in
\nEast Timor tomorrow for a four-day visit, in a move reflecting
\n\"continuing and increased concern\" over the situation there, the
\nBritish Foreign Office said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The three ambassadors -- Britain's Robin Christopher,
\nAustria's Viktor Segalla and Paul Brouwer of the Netherlands --
\nrepresent the heads of the diplomatic missions of the European
\nUnion Troika here.<\/p>\n
Accompanying the three ambassadors will be European Commission
\nrepresentative to Jakarta Klauspeter Schmallenbach and EU council
\nsecretariat representative Christer Persson.<\/p>\n
\"Representatives from EU missions have visited East Timor
\nregularly in recent years in order to observe the situation in
\nthe territory first hand,\" the Foreign Office said in the
\nstatement, a copy of which was released by the British Embassy
\nhere.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that the present visit is being undertaken by Heads
\nof Mission reflects the Union's continuing and increased concern
\nwith the situation in East Timor and its wish to improve its
\ncommitment to support all those working for a peaceful solution.<\/p>\n
\"It does not represent any change in the position of the EU
\nand its member states on the status of East Timor,\" it asserted.<\/p>\n
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was integrated into
\nIndonesia in 1976. The United Nations and the European Union,
\nhowever, has not recognized it.<\/p>\n
The EU yesterday expressed its continued support for the talks
\nbetween Indonesia and Portugal under the aegis of the United
\nNations secretary-general to find an internationally acceptable
\nsolution to the East Timor issue.<\/p>\n
While EU diplomats have frequently traveled to the province,
\nambassadors have not visited due to their government's position
\non East Timor.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a small group of pro-independence East Timorese
\nprotesters held a rally yesterday near President B.J. Habibie's
\nhome in Kuningan, South Jakarta. They were joined by some 30
\nmembers of the United Indonesia Democratic Union Party (PUDI).<\/p>\n
They were stopped about 500 meters from the street leading to
\nHabibie's home by armed troops guarding the area.<\/p>\n
The protesters called on the government to hold a referendum
\non self-determination in the province.<\/p>\n
They also demanded that all political prisoners be released
\nwithout exception and urged for the allegedly ill-gotten wealth
\nof former president Soeharto and his family to be returned to
\npurchase much needed basic commodities for the people. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-ambassadors-to-visit-e-timor-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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