U.S. to press for solution to East Timor issue: Clinton<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (Agencies): The United States would press for a
\nsolution to the East Timor issue in Indonesia, President Bill
\nClinton said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to try to work to do what we can to resolve\"
\nthe East Timor question \"in a way that is consistent with what I
\nbelieve are universal values with regard to human rights and
\nhuman dignity,\" Clinton said as reported by AFP.<\/p>\n
But questioned at a press conference, he declined to comment
\non a request from the U.S. Democratic Party and the U.S. Senate
\nto raise the idea of a referendum on East Timor independence with
\nIndonesian President Soeharto in Manila next week.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the same press conference, Australian Prime
\nMinister John Howard also declined to comment on self-
\ndetermination for the former Portuguese territory which became
\npart of Indonesia in 1976.<\/p>\n
Senator Chris Dodd, chairman of the Democratic Party, and 14
\nother members of the U.S. Senate have written to Clinton asking
\nhim to suggest a referendum on East Timor to Soeharto during the
\nAsia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.<\/p>\n
The U.S. leader goes to Manila for this meeting Saturday after
\na five-day official and working visit to Australia.<\/p>\n
Clinton said Washington has maintained constructive and
\nfriendly relations with Indonesia, but at the same time taken
\nsubstantial steps in the past three years to address human rights
\nconcerns in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Actions included changing U.S. arms policy to try to prevent
\nthe sale to Indonesia of arms most likely to be used to put down
\na civilian rebellion or to oppress people's human rights, and co-
\nsponsoring a resolution on East Timor in the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is a very large, very great, very rapidly growing
\ncountry with a massive amount of diversity, both ethnic diversity
\nand religious diversity, and (East Timor was )... one area where
\nthey've not been able to manage it successfully,\" Clinton told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
\"And we will continue to try to work to do what we can to
\nresolve this in a way that is consistent with what I believe are
\nuniversal values with regard to human rights and human dignity,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Howard said he had not considered what form self-determination
\ncould take in East Timor but the issue was a sensitive element in
\nthe relationship between Australia and Indonesia, a relationship
\nin which Australia placed great importance.<\/p>\n
\"There will always be differences of view about how different
\nissues should be handled between our two countries,\" Howard said.<\/p>\n
\"But my government and governments before mine, of both
\npolitical persuasions, have shown a determination not to allow
\nthat issue to contaminate or undermine the broader relationship,\"
\nHoward said<\/p>\n
It was important that Australia tried to keep a proper balance
\nbetween fostering the relationship and indicating Australia's
\nvalues and attitudes, he added.<\/p>\n
Clinton yesterday also called for a deeper engagement with
\nChina, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
\"The direction China takes in the years to come, the way they
\ndefine its greatness in the future, will help to decide whether
\nthe next century is one of conflict or cooperation,\" Clinton told
\nthe Australian parliament.<\/p>\n
Striking a reassuring tone aimed directly at Beijing, he
\nadded: \"The United States has no interest in containing China.
\nThat is a negative strategy.\"<\/p>\n
\"What the United States wants is to sustain an engagement with
\nChina...in a way that will increase the chances that there will
\nbe more liberty and more prosperity,\" Clinton told a joint
\nsitting of both houses of parliament.<\/p>\n
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