RI ready for UN debate on E. Timor: Alatas
RI ready for UN debate on E. Timor: Alatas
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said that
Indonesia is ready for an open debate on East Timor at the United
Nations, should further talks with Portugal fail to produce
substantial results.
Yesterday, at a hearing of the House of Representatives'
Commission I on foreign policy and defense, Alatas said that the
past seven meetings with Portugal had yielded nothing.
"So far no significant progress has been achieved,
particularly because of the awkward and negative attitudes of the
Portuguese," he said in a written response to questions from
legislators.
Under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General's office, the
Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers have engaged in
"tripartite talks" to find an internationally acceptable solution
for East Timor.
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into
Indonesia in 1976, but the UN still regards Portugal as its
administrator.
The seventh tripartite meeting was held in London in January.
Another meeting is scheduled for Geneva later this month.
Indonesia had accommodated the tripartite talks out of respect
for the UN Secretary General, Alatas said.
"However, if the talks reach a point where they no longer
provide an opportunity to find a solution, then of course we
should find another policy," Alatas said. "As I have often
stated, Indonesia has always been ready to return to a structure
of open debate in the UN forum."
Meanwhile, some East Timorese are preparing to file a lawsuit
against 400-years of Portuguese colonial repression. It will be
filed at the permanent court of arbitration at The Hague.
Alatas said that although Jakarta perceives the East Timor
question as primarily a political matter, "human rights issues
have been used by anti-integration groups and certain countries
to continually raise the East Timor issue."
Alatas said that it is important for Indonesia to keep
improving its human rights' record. "Managing human rights'
issues effectively will help our efforts to find a solution to
the East Timor question," he said. (mds)