UN vows to accelerate E. Timor settlement
UN vows to accelerate E. Timor settlement
JAKARTA (JP): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
pledged yesterday to accelerate his efforts to help Indonesia and
Portugal settle the East Timor issue.
In a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas in
Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Annan also promised to find the best way
to develop a better understanding between Jakarta and Lisbon on
the issue.
"In the near future, the secretary-general will take (some
measures) to encourage more progress on East Timor," Antara
quoted the ministry of foreign affairs' director general of
political affairs Nugroho Wisnumurti as saying yesterday.
Annan is on a four-day visit to Kuala Lumpur to attend the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) informal summit.
He had been scheduled to meet with President Soeharto there.
Alatas represented Soeharto in the meeting. Soeharto had to
cancel his plan to attend the summit last week after the
presidential doctor team advised him not to make the long trip.
ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the
Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
"Annan also briefed the minister about his recent meeting with
Portugal's President Jorge Sampaio in Venezuela," Nugroho said
after accompanying Alatas in the 25-minute talks.
After taking office in January, Annan has initiated three
rounds of new styled tripartite talks between Indonesia and
Portugal.
Indonesia was represented by Nugroho, while Portugal was
represented by Fernando Neves, and Annan was represented by UN
special representative Jamsheed Marker.
Alatas had previously disclosed that "not much progress" had
been achieved in the meetings.
During the meeting, Alatas told Annan that his government can
not release jailed East Timorese separatist rebel Jose Alexandre
"Xanana" Gusmao, as South Africa's President Nelson Mandela had
suggested.
Xanana is serving a reduced 20-year sentence in Jakarta.
"The release of Xanana can only be considered by the President
if it becomes a part of a package for a comprehensive solution on
East Timor," Nugroho said.
Soeharto discussed East Timor's problems with Mandela during
his visit to Cape Town, South Africa last month.
Soeharto allowed Mandela to meet with Xanana during Mandela's
state visit here in July.
"Alatas also expressed hope that the tripartite talks between
Portugal and Indonesia will reach progress, which depends more on
Portugal's attitude," Nugroho said. (prb)