Indonesia considers Portuguese FM's visit<\/p>\n
GENEVA (Agencies): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said
\nyesterday that Indonesia is ready to consider a visit by his
\nPortuguese counterpart, Jaime Gama, to discuss East Timor.<\/p>\n
Speaking before the latest round of talks with Gama over the
\nfuture of East Timor, Alatas told Antara yesterday that Indonesia
\nwould reject Gama's visit if it was solely for the purpose of
\nmeeting with jailed East Timor separatist rebel leader, Alexandre
\n\"Xanana\" Gusmao, as the Portuguese minister had proposed.<\/p>\n
\"Is it proper for a foreign minister to visit a country solely
\nfor the purpose of meeting a prisoner?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
The case would be different if Gama had stated that he wished
\nto visit Jakarta to discuss something with the Indonesian
\ngovernment, and that during the visit he intended to meet with
\nXanana.<\/p>\n
\"If that was the case, then we will obviously consider it. But
\nif he wants to go to Indonesia only to meet Xanana, that is
\nsomething that I can't accept it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alatas and Gama were scheduled to meet under the auspices of
\nUN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in the eighth round of
\ntalks to discuss the future of East Timor.<\/p>\n
Both countries appeared to be anxious to make progress in the
\nface of criticism at home that the first seven rounds of meetings
\nhave produced little in the way of a settlement.<\/p>\n
The United Nations continues to regard Lisbon as the
\nadministering power of East Timor. Indonesia insists the issue of
\nsovereignty was decided in 1976 when the majority of East
\nTimorese voted to join with the republic.<\/p>\n
Alatas said before the meeting yesterday that Portugal had not
\nshown any serious intention of resolving the East Timor problem,
\nbut had instead been trying to impose its will.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that in this tripartite meeting, Portugal will show
\nthat it is serious in finding a comprehensive solution acceptable
\nto everyone,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
\"After so many meetings, we are still going around the circle
\nlooking for words about the framework of settlement, without
\nmaking any progress in solving the East Timor question,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alatas, however, praised Gama for being more open and serious
\nthan previous Portuguese foreign ministers.<\/p>\n
The previous meeting in London last January, attended by
\nAlatas and Gama, agreed that the two countries should begin
\ndiscussing the issue after the previous meetings had only served
\nto build the parties' confidence. (emb)<\/p>\n
Rejection -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-considers-portuguese-fms-visit-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }