East Timor solution still remote, UN mediator says
East Timor solution still remote, UN mediator says
UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): Talks between Portuguese and Indonesian officials on the future of East Timor have made headway, but are still far away from reaching an international solution, United Nations mediator Jamsheed Marker told AFP Wednesday.
"There's a long road ahead," despite progress so far, said Marker, who has since Monday overseen several negotiation sessions in New York between experts from both sides.
The Pakistani diplomat did not provide details of UN-sponsored talks between Jakarta envoy Nugroho Wisnumurti and Lisbon representative Fernando Neves.
A source at the UN who refused to be named told Antara that the discussion became heated as both sides stood their ground on the matter.
The source refused to elaborate on substantial matters which are being discussed in the meeting.
Under an existing agreement, the five-day meeting, which ends today, is closed and confidential.
The meeting, aimed at seeking a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the East Timor issue, is the new format of the tripartite dialog held since UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan took office in January.
The talks have been held daily from 10 a.m. until lunch at Marker's office at the UN, and also at 3 p.m.
The morning sessions consisted of bilateral talks between Indonesian delegates and Marker, and Portuguese delegates and Marker.
The meetings this week will be followed by a meeting between the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers and the UN secretary-general in New York next month when the world body holds its general assembly.
The All-Inclusive Intra-East Timorese Dialog (AETD), originally scheduled to be held this month, will be held after the talks between Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers and the UN secretary-general.
East Timor, a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, was integrated into Indonesia as its 27th province in 1976. The UN, however, still recognizes Lisbon as East Timor's administrative authority.
The talks in New York this week have been slightly overshadowed by a diplomatic incident between Portugal and South Africa, which recently joined the search for a political settlement.
Pretoria expelled Portuguese Ambassador Vasco Valente for leaking a letter by South African President Nelson Mandela to Indonesian President Soeharto asking that East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao be released.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would not travel to Pretoria to discuss East Timor with Mandela, contradicting South African reports.
But a UN spokesman said Marker would travel to South Africa next week. UN diplomats have emphasized the "complementary" nature of UN and South African efforts.