No new Timor dialog before January: Alatas<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas said yesterday that a second meeting involving all East
\nTimor factions would not take place until after he has met with
\nhis Portuguese counterpart again, which is scheduled for January.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministers will be meeting for the seventh round of
\ntalks facilitated by United Nations Secretary-General Boutros
\nBoutros-Ghali.<\/p>\n
\"The date (for a second East Timorese dialog) hasn't been set,
\nbut it will definitely not be held prior to the next trilateral
\n(UN-sponsored) meeting,\" Alatas said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on
\nhis return from the sixth UN-sponsored meeting in Geneva.<\/p>\n
Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao
\nBarosso agreed at the Geneva meeting that there should be a
\nsecond round of the All-inclusive Intra-East Timor Dialog (AETD).<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia welcomed another AETD, Alatas yesterday
\nrejected the proposed timetable.<\/p>\n
\"If it is held prior to the meeting of ministers...then it
\ncould create the impression that the two were related to one
\nanother,\" he said, stressing that the AETD must not become a
\nsecond track to a political solution to the East Timor dispute,
\nwhich is being pursued in the UN-sponsored talks.<\/p>\n
\"This was explained as Indonesia's position and it was
\naccepted by the UN Secretary-General and also in the end by
\nPortugal, although they (the Portuguese) were not of course
\ncompletely happy.\"<\/p>\n
It was also agreed that the seventh round of ministerial-level
\ntalks would be held in London on Jan. 16, 1996.<\/p>\n
The first AETD, held in Austria last month and also
\nfacilitated by the United Nations, brought together 30 East
\nTimorese leaders from both sides of the integration debate. The
\ndelegates issued a declaration calling for a follow-up meeting
\nprior to the next UN-sponsored meeting.<\/p>\n
Alatas underlined yesterday the fourth point in the press
\ncommunique issued after Saturday's Geneva talks, which states
\nthat \"the Ministers welcome the Secretary-General's view on the
\nneed for convening a further meeting or meetings of the AETD and
\nhis intention to pursue the matter with the two parties.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas said: \"Please note that it only states we welcome the
\nviews of the UN Secretary-General on the need for another meeting
\nor meetings.<\/p>\n
\"What is certain is that if it is eventually agreed, then it
\ndefinitely won't be held before Jan. 16,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Alatas said Jakarta's and Lisbon's permanent representatives
\nto the UN in New York would begin meeting at least once a month
\nto prepare for the substantive issues for the January talks.<\/p>\n
These include creating a framework for a solution to the
\nproblem and the preservation and promotion of East Timor's
\nculture.<\/p>\n
The government has ruled out the teaching of the Portuguese
\nlanguage in East Timorese schools, but has stated that English
\nand Portuguese private classes are welcome. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-new-timor-dialog-before-january-alatas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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