UN envoy due here to brief on Timor

UN envoy due here to brief on Timor

JAKARTA (JP): United Nations special envoy for East Timor
Jamsheed Marker will arrive here on July 14 to brief officials on
his meeting with the Portuguese government, who reportedly gave a
"positive" response to Indonesia's proposal on special autonomy
status for East Timor

Indonesia's foreign minister Ali Alatas told journalists that
Marker had returned from Portugal and his preliminary discussions
with Indonesia's ambassador to the UN had indicated a positive
response from Lisbon.

"He indicated that the response from Portugal was generally
positive, not negative, and that they were prepared to discuss
this issue further and to continue with the tripartite talks,"
Alatas said.

Alatas recently presented fresh proposals to the UN after
President B.J. Habibie said he was willing to consider a "special
status" for East Timor.

Alatas also deplored the leakage of a confidential UN document
on East Timor.

"I deeply regret what has happened and will surely trace
whoever is responsible for this leakage," he told journalists
during a hurriedly arranged media briefing.

The confidential letter was originally sent by Jamsheed Marker
to Nugroho Wisnumurti, the foreign ministry's director general
for political affairs.

According to Alatas the document contained ideas to be put
forward at a brain-storming session of senior Indonesian and
Portuguese officials under UN auspices.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as
part of Indonesia in 1976. However the United Nations has not
recognized this and continues to sponsor talks between Indonesia
and Portugal to find an internationally acceptable solution to
the issue.

Alatas also said yesterday that the issue of East Timor would
be discussed with Australia's foreign minister Alexander Downer
who is scheduled to arrive here Wednesday for a three-day visit.

"I will only use the occasion to explain what we intend to do
with our proposal," he said. (emf)