Portugal and RI trade criticism

Portugal and RI trade criticism

UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): Portugal and Indonesia have exchanged harsh words over East Timor after Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama criticized Jakarta's rule in the former Portuguese colony.

In a speech Tuesday to the annual debate of the UN General Assembly, Gama claimed that the increased international attention on East Timor "has not resulted in an improvement of the situation in the territory".

Exercising his rights of reply at the end of the assembly's afternoon session, diplomat Arizal Effendi of Indonesia criticized the "unwarranted references on East Timor" by the Portuguese foreign minister.

"The contents of that statement have led us to question Portugal's sincerity and commitment in the ongoing tripartite dialog held under the auspices of the United Nations secretary- general," he said.

Portugal could not, on the one hand, call for a consultative dialog, and on the other "use every opportunity to campaign negatively on the issue of East Timor," Effendi said.

Indonesia and Portugal have been negotiating under UN auspices to try and resolve the dispute over the territory.

The next round of talks is set for Oct. 1 in New York.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as part of Indonesia in 1976. But the UN still recognizes Portugal as the administrative authority.

After Effendi's remarks, Portuguese diplomat Ana Gomes said the "process of decolonization of East Timor is not completed" and that it remained a non-self-governing territory.

After another brief exchange, in which each speaker said the other had added nothing new, the assembly adjourned.