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)