East Timor talks enter new phase

UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan has proved himself to be quite active in attempting to settle the issue of East Timor.

His special envoy has already approached a number of parties to gather information for the upcoming tripartite talks, which are to be attended by representatives of Indonesia, the UN and Portugal.

Portugal called the last meeting, which was held in December 1996 under the auspices of the then-secretary-general Boutros- Boutros Ghali.

A few days ago Jamsheed Maker, the UN special envoy, visited East Timor, where he met with local leaders. He was able to attempt a firsthand assessment of the situation in East Timor, even though he was aboard a helicopter for some of the time.

It is to be hoped that the upcoming tripartite talks can yield some concrete results which are acceptable to all parties. Portugal should no longer have a say over its former colony and its people, which it abandoned in a state of civil strife. Disregarding all ethical standards, Portugal left the people to settle their own problems while the territory was in a state of civil disorder.

It is to be hoped that the results will be final, acceptable and binding. Obviously, to this end the information gathered by the UN secretary-general's special envoy will receive due consideration.

The existing realities -- whether favorable or otherwise -- cannot be concealed. With those realities as a foundation, an edifice must be built that will be beneficial for innumerable people until well into the future.

-- Republika, Jakarta