UN defers debate on E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations General Assembly, which got underway in New York this week, has once again deferred the East Timor debate till next year, Antara reported yesterday.

The proposal to defer the issue, which has remained in the UN agenda, came from Thailand. It was seconded by Belgium and the motion was carried by acclamation, without being put to a vote.

The Thai representative argued for a deferral saying that the issue is now being handled by UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali who this year alone has supervised two separate talks between the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal.

The last round of these tripartite talks in July showed progress as the parties began discussing substantial issues to resolve the status of East Timor. They are scheduled to meet again in January.

The United Nations still officially recognizes Lisbon as the administering power of the territory which it abandoned in 1975. Indonesia says the majority of East Timorese have voted to integrate with the republic.

Although the East Timor problem is still on the UN agenda, the General Assembly has deferred debate on the issue every year since 1983. (emb)