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.