RI and Portugal agree to help dialog on Timor
RI and Portugal agree to help dialog on Timor
GENEVA (Agencies): Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and
Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barroso agreed here on
Monday to facilitate dialog between all parties involved in the
dispute over the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, which
integrated into Indonesia 19 years ago.
After more than five hours of talks, the United Nations, which
hosted the talks, said both sides intended to convene "all-
inclusive" discussions to "provide a forum for continuing the
free and formal exchange of views to explore ideas ... that might
have a positive impact on the situation in East Timor."
Barroso said Monday's talks had made "some progress,
especially (regarding) the consultation of all shades of opinions
in East Timor,"
He added Jakarta had "always said it is very important to
associate the East Timorese themselves to the process.
"But we are very far away from a solution ... the positions
are the opposite on the political status of the territory," the
Portuguese minister noted.
Barroso also revealed a meeting of East Timorese factions
would take place somewhere outside of Indonesia before the next
round of UN-sponsored discussions in New York on May 19.
The minister had earlier said if the Indonesians would not
allow full autonomy immediately, they should agree to a form of
"transitional solution that allows us back into line with
international law."
Alatas spoke of a "productive meeting and said Jakarta "noted
positively" the UN communique. He particularly welcomed the
statement's insistence that the sought-after dialog "will not
address the political status of East Timor."
He also backed the call on "all shades of opinion to exercise
restraint and refrain from actions that could have a detrimental
impact" on moves to resolve the unrest.
Alatas further said it would be "premature" to "talk about the
substantial issues" which would be on the table in New York.
Both men said they would at the next round of talks take up UN
Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's earlier call for a
"just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution" to
the unrest.
Earlier Monday, police in the East Timorese capital Dili said
they had arrested 24 people and expelled four foreign tourists
after a brief pro-independence demonstration.
The pressure for a solution increased late last year when East
Timorese protesters forced their way into the U.S. embassy in
Jakarta to coincide with the arrival of world and regional
leaders for the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum.
The Indonesian authorities have grown increasingly sensitive
about the image of the military presence in Dili and on Monday
barred foreign journalists from filming the demonstration and
arrests there.
Jakarta has refused to organize a referendum on the
territory's future, as demanded by the imprisoned leader of the
East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao, claiming most of the
700,000 East Timorese chose to be integrated into Indonesia in
1976.
But despite the apparent lack of progress, Lisbon has recently
agreed to meet Timorese supporters of the integration, as Jakarta
has demanded. Jakarta responded by giving UN missions and
journalists access to Dili.