UN member reports on E. Timor visit

DILI, East Timor: A visiting member of the United Nations subcommission on the prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities, Miguel Alfonso Martinez, called yesterday for a realistic view of East Timor.

"East Timor has achieved progress after it integrated with Indonesia 21 years ago," he told journalists at Comoro Airport at the end of a three-day visit.

"I respect Indonesia's efforts to settle the East Timor issue with Portugal and we do hope that it will be settled very soon. We (at the UN) also pay a lot of attention to the settlement of the issue," he added.

As reported by Antara, during his visit to the province, Martinez met with several East Timor figures including Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares and East Timor Military Commander Col. Slamat Sidabutar and local figures. (mds)