No new Timor dialog before January: Alatas

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)