Jakarta to study Mandela's talks offer

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia appreciates South African President Nelson Mandela's offer to host talks on East Timor, but said yesterday it was still considering whether or not to accept the proposal.

"We appreciate it but it hasn't been accepted yet," Ghaffar Fadyl, director of foreign information at the Indonesian foreign ministry, told The Jakarta Post.

He said Indonesia still considers the current avenues of discussion, the tripartite talks and All-Inclusive Intra East Timor Dialog, as "valid, so we're not looking at others".

After meeting with Mandela in Pretoria Tuesday, the United Nations secretary general's special envoy for East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, said the South African president had offered to host talks between the Indonesian government and exiled Timorese activists.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976, but the UN still recognizes Lisbon as the administrative power there.

Mandela's name has been increasingly linked to the East Timor issue after he sent a letter to President Soeharto calling for the release of jailed Timorese leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao. Mandela's request was turned down by Jakarta earlier this month.

Ghaffar was also quoted by Antara as saying yesterday that Indonesia's response to Mandela's offer should not be interpreted as a "welcoming" or "positive" response.

"If we welcomed or gave a positive response it would mean that we accept," he said, adding that for the time being Indonesia "respects" the offer.

When asked to comment on whether Soeharto intends to visit South Africa soon, Ghaffar told the Post that if the President did it would be to reciprocate Mandela's visit here last month.

He said the visit would not center on the East Timor issue but would be aimed at enhancing bilateral ties. (10/33)