Belo describes Clinton meeting

DILI: Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said Sunday that he had met U.S. President Bill Clinton at the White House last week in his capacity as a 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner not as a politician.

"The meeting with President Clinton was part of my series of visits to Europe and America in my capacity as a winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize," Belo said.

He said he had toured Europe and America for almost two months from early May until the end of June.

Belo told Antara that President Clinton had expressed his respect and support for the efforts he had made with those who loved peace and justice in East Timor and other parts of Indonesia.

"We met with mutual understanding particularly on issues related to East Timor's reconciliation and held constructive talks based on familial spirit," he said.

He said that after meeting Clinton he had talked to U.S. National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, the assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State and several US senators.

"With the US senators, we discussed the problem of mines injuring humans. We always talked within the framework of world peace and justice," he added.

Officials in Jakarta have questioned Belo's motives for meeting the American politicians.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said Saturday that he was considering summoning Belo to his office. (pan)