Jakarta to study Mandela's talks offer

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)