Annan hopeful of progress in East Timor talks
Annan hopeful of progress in East Timor talks
UNITED NATIONS (AFP): Progress in talks on the future of East
Timor is possible now that the troubled territory has gained
greater world attention, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said
Thursday.
"I am optimistic that we will make some progress," Annan told
a press conference here. "I don't consider the situation
hopeless."
Annan said Portugal and Indonesia have agreed to resume talks
on the future of East Timor, adding "it has become a high profile
issue and both governments would want to see some movement."
The former Portuguese colony integrated into Indonesia in
1976, a move which has not been recognized by the United Nations.
Troops have been fighting a low-level armed separatist rebellion.
On Wednesday, Annan announced he had designated Pakistani
diplomat Jamsheed Marker as his personal envoy to East Timor,
describing him as "a very good man, a very able diplomat."
Marker, 74, is a career diplomat who has represented his
country in Washington, Paris, Bonn, Tokyo, Ottawa and Moscow as
well as the United Nations.
"If we all get engaged and sustain the effort it is quite
possible we will make some progress," Annan said.
No date has been set for new talks between Portugal and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Australia said yesterday it was standing firm on
its policy of recognizing Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor
while backing UN efforts to find a solution for the territory.
"We will continue to pursue the present policy because we
think that is the best mix of initiatives to serve the interests
not only of Australia (but) the people of East Timor," Foreign
Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said.
Downer was speaking to reporters after his high profile
meeting here with East Timorese activist and Nobel peace prize
winner Jose Ramos Horta. The self-exiled separatist leader shared
the 1996 peace prize with Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.
Focal point
Horta had said Friday's meeting would be a focal point of his
current Australian tour and would give him an indication if
Australia had the "wisdom and generosity" to change its position.
He has been a critic of the policy the Australian government
has pursued since 1985.
"Today (Friday) has been an opportunity to explain to Mr.
Ramos Horta the large number of things that the Australian
government does and that we haven't been passive on the issue,"
Downer said.
Australia is the largest bilateral aid donor to East Timor. It
gave four million Australian dollars (US$3.16 million) last year.