No loser in East Timor dialog<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday
\ndismissed suggestions that the \"Burg Schlaining Declaration\" was
\nunfavorable to Indonesia, saying that the recent All-Inclusive
\nIntra-East Timor dialog should not be viewed as a win-lose
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
\"From the beginning the important thing for me is not gaining
\nor losing (in the talks). There is neither winning nor losing,\"
\nAlatas told journalists here yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n
He said that in the Declaration there was nothing new
\nintroduced except the call for further reconciliation talks.<\/p>\n
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976. However, the
\nUnited Nations still regards Portugal as the administrative power
\nthere.<\/p>\n
Under the aegis of the UN, talks have been conducted by the
\nIndonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers to find an
\ninternationally-acceptable solution to the issue.<\/p>\n
During their last meeting in Geneva in January the two foreign
\nministers agreed that a reconciliation dialog between opposing
\nEast Timorese factions would be held to help create a conducive
\natmosphere for the talks between Jakarta and Lisbon.<\/p>\n
Thirty pro- and anti-integration East Timorese gathered in
\nAustria last week for a three-day reconciliatory dialog under the
\nfacilitation of the United Nations.<\/p>\n
At the end of their meeting they released a declaration which
\ncalled, among others things, for the implementation of necessary
\nmeasures in the field of human rights and the preservation of the
\nEast Timorese cultural identity by introducing the teaching of
\nPortuguese and Tetun languages.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the meeting, various interpretations of
\nthe results have emerged, including a media report quoting a
\nformer East Timor Governor who is currently Indonesian ambassador
\nto Bucharest, Rumania, Mario Viegas Carrascalao.<\/p>\n
In the report the former governor was quoted as saying that
\nthe results of the dialog and the declaration were unfavorable to
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
When asked by journalists, Alatas expressed regret at the
\nambassador's comments.<\/p>\n
\"I regret that an ambassador, who should be better informed
\nthan other people, could draw such a conclusion,\" Alatas
\nremarked, stressing that nothing in the declaration was
\ndetrimental to Indonesia's position, including paragraph six,
\nwhich cites UN Resolution 37\/30.<\/p>\n
Alatas said the declaration merely reaffirmed the on-going
\nprocess to seek an international solution. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-loser-in-east-timor-dialog-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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