Habibie set up team on E. Timor's status

Habibie set up team on E. Timor's status

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie assigned on Saturday the
National Development Planning Board to formulate development
policies for East Timor in accordance with the special status it
will be accorded.

The establishment of the team is a follow-up on the agreement
between Indonesia and Portugal under the auspices of the United
Nations to hold in-depth discussions on Indonesia's proposal for
a "special status based on a wide-ranging autonomy" for the
province.

East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares after meeting
with the President at the Bina Graha presidential office said he
had been asked by Habibie to provide a report on the latest
development in Indonesia's youngest province.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into
Indonesia in 1976. The integration has yet to be recognized by
the United Nations, which has sponsored talks between Jakarta and
Lisbon to find an internationally acceptable solution to the
issue.

Habibie recently said he would grant a special status to the
troubled province and the Armed Forces also completed the
withdrawal of more than 1,000 combat troops from East Timor
earlier this month.

However, the government remains steadfast in its position of
rejecting any referendum on independence in the province. (byg)