UN defers E. Timor debate again<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations is set to defer once again
\nthe debate on East Timor at this year's General Assembly, Antara
\nreported yesterday.<\/p>\n
The general committee, which prepares the agenda for this
\nyear's assembly, unanimously agreed Wednesday to an Egyptian call
\nfor a deferment. Greece seconded the proposal, the news agency
\nsaid in a dispatch from the United Nations.<\/p>\n
The East Timor issue has been on the assembly's agenda since
\n1976 but its debate has been deferred every year since 1983 in
\norder to allow the UN secretary general to promote dialog between
\nIndonesia and Portugal, the two disputing parties.<\/p>\n
The Egyptian representative cited the same point in calling
\nfor a deferment, underscoring UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's
\nSept. 15 progress report on the East Timor issue.<\/p>\n
The issue was listed as the 95th item on this year's agenda.<\/p>\n
The committee's decision would be brought to the assembly's
\nplenary meeting on Sept. 19.<\/p>\n
Annan, who assumed his post in January, has appointed
\nPakistani diplomat Jamsheed Marker as his special representative
\non the East Timor question.<\/p>\n
Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers have conducted
\nseveral meetings since 1983 to try to resolve the status of the
\nformer Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
Portugal abandoned the territory in 1975 before completing the
\ndecolonization process, leaving in its wake a bloody civil war.<\/p>\n
That same year, a group of tribal leaders in East Timor
\ndeclared their intention to join Indonesia, and the move was
\nformalized by the Indonesian House of Representatives the
\nfollowing year.<\/p>\n
The United Nations, however, continues to regard Lisbon as the
\nterritory's administering power.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Reuters reported that Mary Robinson, the new UN
\nHuman Rights Commissioner, said in Geneva that she hoped to meet
\nwith Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas at the general
\nassembly to discuss the East Timor situation.<\/p>\n
Robinson, a former Irish president, vowed to take a balanced
\napproach with governments under fire for alleged human rights
\nabuses, but to \"stand up to bullies\" when necessary. (emb)<\/p>",
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