Govt remains hopeful of intra-E. Timor dialog

Govt remains hopeful of intra-E. Timor dialog

JAKARTA (JP): The Foreign Ministry asserted its hope yesterday
that the all-inclusive intra-East Timor dialog facilitated by the
United Nations would still proceed as scheduled.

"The government of Indonesia remains committed to precisely
such a dialog and remains hopeful that such a dialog can still
take place," said a press statement from the ministry's director
of information, Irawan Abidin.

He said that the dialog must remain faithful to the
understandings embodied in the statement made at the trilateral
talks between UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and the
Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers last January.

Irawan's statement came after reports that the UN, as the
facilitator of the dialog, had gone beyond the bounds of their
agreed role.

The UN has upset Indonesian East Timorese leaders by refusing
to consult them in the preparations. It could prompt a boycott of
the meetings if the dialog becomes something other than what was
agreed to during January's trilateral talks.

Without prior consultation the UN has drafted a list of dialog
participants, which includes Fretilin separatist leader Ramos
Horta.

The foreign ministry also stated that it is now waiting to see
how preparations for the all-inclusive dialog develop.(mds)