Timor reconciliation talks begin in Austrian castle<\/p>\n
STADTSCHLAINING, Austria (Reuter): East Timorese leaders began
\na historic meeting yesterday to try to reconcile differences that
\nhave torn their people apart for the last 20 years.<\/p>\n
The All-inclusive East Timor Dialog was held behind closed
\ndoors at Stadtschlaining's imposing medieval castle, 140 km (90
\nmiles) south of Vienna. The meeting is scheduled to last until
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Supervised by United Nations officers, the meeting involved 30
\nEast Timorese leaders -- 16 representing those who support the
\n1976 integration of East Timor with Indonesia, and 14 who opposed
\nthe integration and have been waging their campaign from exiles.<\/p>\n
This is the first time that the leaders, many of whom were
\ninvolved in bloody civil wars in 1975-1976, in the wake of the
\nwithdrawal of the Portuguese colonial administration, have met in
\none forum.<\/p>\n
The pro-Jakarta delegation is led by senior politician Lopes
\nda Cruz and includes East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio
\nSoares. Vocal Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo is in the
\ndelegation although he has pronounced neutrality on the issue.
\nThe anti-integration group includes Ramos Horta and Abilio
\nAraujo.<\/p>\n
UN political affairs officer Tamrat Samuel told the 30
\ndelegates that the meeting was not a negotiating forum and was
\nnot intended to substitute ministerial talks between Indonesia
\nand Portugal under the auspices of the UN.<\/p>\n
"For that reason it will not address the political status of
\nEast Timor," he said as quoted by Reuters.<\/p>\n
The meeting "is informal and aimed at facilitating an exchange
\nof pragmatic ideas between the two parties," a UN spokesman said.<\/p>\n
The discussions are intended to defuse the atmosphere and
\nserve as the basis for progress in the peace process in the run
\nup to a July 8 meeting in Geneva between the foreign ministers
\nfrom Indonesia and Portugal, he said.<\/p>\n
"The discussions will touch on everything with the exception
\nof the political status of the territory, which is the exclusive
\npreserve of Indonesia and Portugal," the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
Bishop Belo said he hoped the meeting would bring the two
\nsides closer together. "I am optimistic. Why shouldn't we ask for
\npeace and reconciliation?" he told journalists.<\/p>\n
Indonesian delegates also expressed the hope that the informal
\ntalks could go some way to improving relations, particularly on
\neconomic and cultural issues.<\/p>\n
"It's quite an historic meeting. It's the first time all the
\nparties are meeting," Lopes said on Friday.<\/p>\n
"If we can create a spirit of dialog we can try to go for
\nreconciliation. It will be successful if we can create a climate
\nof understanding."<\/p>\n
The only complaint heard ahead of the meeting came from Horta
\nwho was still insisting that the meeting discuss the political
\nfuture of East Timor.<\/p>\n
Horta told Reuters that the talks could not possibly ignore
\nthe political situation in East Timor.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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