UN sets new round of E. Timor talks in NY
UN sets new round of E. Timor talks in NY
UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali announced on Tuesday that a new round of talks on East Timor between the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal would be held in New York in December, AFP reported.
In a report to the General Assembly, Boutros-Ghali said the ninth round of UN-mediated talks would take place on Dec. 21.
"In the meantime, my special adviser, Mr. Ismat Kittani, will lead discussions in New York between the permanent representatives to the United Nations of the two governments."
"As part of these efforts I have continued to consult with East Timorese personalities of various political persuasions."
Boutros-Ghali said he was confident that the talks would "lead to the achievement of a workable long-term solution" given both countries' continued desire to find a negotiated settlement.
East Timor became part of Indonesia in 1976 after about 450 years under Portuguese colonial rule. The UN, however, still recognizes Portugal as the legitimate administrator of the territory.
The UN has been acting as mediator for Indonesia and Portugal to discuss solution to the East Timor question.
In Geneva, Jose Ayala-Lasso, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Tuesday he was negotiating with Indonesia and Colombia to open monitoring offices there, Reuters reported.
The UN Commission on Human Rights, at its last annual session in April, urged Ayala-Lasso to set up offices in Colombia and Indonesia. They were among five states named by Amnesty International for urgent scrutiny by the 53-member body.
"I have been asked to keep up my negotiating process with Indonesia to have a presence there, a program in Jakarta," he said. "We are still in conversation and contact on this matter with the Indonesian government."
The Commission issued a statement expressing "deep concern" over the situation in East Timor. It urged Ayala-Lasso to send an officer to Jakarta who would have "regular access to East Timor".