Lisbon seeks to expand East Timor talks

Lisbon seeks to expand East Timor talks

By Aboeprijadi Santoso

LISBON (JP): Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, with an
eye to next week's round of talks with Indonesia on the future of
East Timor, said on Wednesday that he would insist on the
principle of self determination for East Timorese people.

Gama told The Jakarta Post that he would go to London, where
the talks on Jan. 16 will be held, with an open mind and he would
also like to hear new proposals from Indonesia.

"I hope we can have a positive development," Gama said.
"London will not be a final result, but surely an important
step."

The seventh round of talks in London between the two
countries' foreign ministers is held under the auspices of the
United Nations Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali. This
will be the first involvement of the newly elected Portuguese
socialist government led by Prime Minister Antonio Guteres.

Gama is no stranger to the diplomatic world and to the East
Timor issue. He served as foreign minister in 1983-85 and was
involved in the first round of negotiations in 1983.

The minister said the Portuguese government wants to push the
negotiation process toward a "constructive solution". But he
stressed that the new Portuguese government will stand firm on
the principle of self-determination for the people of East Timor.

"The self determination problem is now directly linked to
democracy and the UN. It's an inspiring movement, spreading all
over the world," he said.

Indonesia has long rejected another referendum in East Timor,
pointing at the fact that East Timorese leaders in 1976 made
clear their desire to integrate with Indonesia. Their position
was strengthened further by their participation in subsequent
Indonesia's general elections since then.

Gama said he would like to see the trilateral talks expanded
to include East Timorese representatives. "We cannot only conduct
a dialog through the mediation of the UN. We also have to listen
to the people there. The people exist, they have their own
opinions and choices. Why not have them as participants?"

He explained that "sound representatives" meant the inclusion
of some people now in Indonesian jails, including Jose Alexandre
"Xanana" Gusmao.

Gama also stressed that Lisbon harbors no intention of ever
returning to East Timor. "We do not have any idea of having Timor
back again as a Portuguese colony. That's idiotic. What we want
is a solution. We have to think only of respect for international
rule and respect for people's free choice."

While previous rounds of trilateral talks focused more on
confidence building measures, Indonesia's Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas said in Jakarta last week that the London
talks would enter a "substantive phase".

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