No new Timor dialog before January: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday that a second meeting involving all East Timor factions would not take place until after he has met with his Portuguese counterpart again, which is scheduled for January.

The foreign ministers will be meeting for the seventh round of talks facilitated by United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

"The date (for a second East Timorese dialog) hasn't been set, but it will definitely not be held prior to the next trilateral (UN-sponsored) meeting," Alatas said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on his return from the sixth UN-sponsored meeting in Geneva.

Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barosso agreed at the Geneva meeting that there should be a second round of the All-inclusive Intra-East Timor Dialog (AETD).

Although Indonesia welcomed another AETD, Alatas yesterday rejected the proposed timetable.

"If it is held prior to the meeting of ministers...then it could create the impression that the two were related to one another," he said, stressing that the AETD must not become a second track to a political solution to the East Timor dispute, which is being pursued in the UN-sponsored talks.

"This was explained as Indonesia's position and it was accepted by the UN Secretary-General and also in the end by Portugal, although they (the Portuguese) were not of course completely happy."

It was also agreed that the seventh round of ministerial-level talks would be held in London on Jan. 16, 1996.

The first AETD, held in Austria last month and also facilitated by the United Nations, brought together 30 East Timorese leaders from both sides of the integration debate. The delegates issued a declaration calling for a follow-up meeting prior to the next UN-sponsored meeting.

Alatas underlined yesterday the fourth point in the press communique issued after Saturday's Geneva talks, which states that "the Ministers welcome the Secretary-General's view on the need for convening a further meeting or meetings of the AETD and his intention to pursue the matter with the two parties."

Alatas said: "Please note that it only states we welcome the views of the UN Secretary-General on the need for another meeting or meetings.

"What is certain is that if it is eventually agreed, then it definitely won't be held before Jan. 16," he added.

Alatas said Jakarta's and Lisbon's permanent representatives to the UN in New York would begin meeting at least once a month to prepare for the substantive issues for the January talks.

These include creating a framework for a solution to the problem and the preservation and promotion of East Timor's culture.

The government has ruled out the teaching of the Portuguese language in East Timorese schools, but has stated that English and Portuguese private classes are welcome. (mds)