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DATE=1/28/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244815
TITLE=U-N / TIMOR TALKS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS-SPONSORED TALKS ON THE FORMER PORTUGUESE 
COLONY OF EAST TIMOR GOT UNDER WAY TODAY (THURSDAY) IN NEW YORK. 
U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE THE TALKS WILL LEAD TO AN EARLY 
AGREEMENT ON AUTONOMY FOR THE TERRITORY AND POSSIBLE INDEPENDENCE
AT A LATER DATE.  V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE UNITED NATIONS' SPECIAL ENVOY FOR EAST TIMOR, JAMSHEED
MARKER, HELD SEPARATE TALKS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM INDONESIA 
AND PORTUGAL.  THREE-WAY TALKS ARE SCHEDULED TO START FRIDAY AND 
CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK.
MR. MARKER DESCRIBES THE TALKS AS USEFUL BUT SAYS HE NEEDS 
CLARIFICATION CONCERNING INDONESIA'S ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY THAT 
IT MAY CONSIDER INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR.  HE SAYS DESPITE 
INDONESIA'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THE NEW YORK TALKS WILL CONTINUE TO 
FOCUS ON A SERIES OF U-N PROPOSALS THAT WOULD PROVIDE EARLY AND 
WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR.
                       /// MARKER ACT ///
         WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON THE PROPOSALS FOR 
         WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY.  I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE 
         INDONESIAN DELEGATION THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT 
         OF JAKARTA.  WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FORMAL PROPOSAL ON THAT.
         IF AND WHEN WE GET IT, WE WILL CERTAINLY FIND OUT, BUT 
         RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEKING FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS ON THAT.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. MARKER, WHO COMES FROM PAKISTAN, SAYS THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE 
TALKS IS GOOD AND, HE SAYS, THERE IS A DETERMINATION TO ARRIVE AT
AS MUCH OF AN AGREEMENT AS POSSIBLE.
HE SAYS DISCUSSIONS THURSDAY INCLUDED THE ISSUE OF INDEPENDENCE 
AND THE FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR SEPARATIST LEADER XANANA GUSMAO.  HE
SAYS THERE IS A DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT MR. GUSMAO TAKES PART 
ACTIVELY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.  HE DID NOT PROVIDE DETAILS.
THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON THE TALKS FROM THE INDONESIAN 
OR PORTUGUESE DELEGATIONS.
THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT ENDING TWO DECADES OF VIOLENCE IN EAST 
TIMOR BY BRINGING ABOUT AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE 
TERRITORY'S 800-THOUSAND RESIDENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE.
UNTIL THIS WEEK, INDONESIA HAS REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY
OF INDEPENDENCE.
U-N OFFICIALS SAY INDONESIA'S LATEST STATEMENT CONCERNING 
INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR MAY BE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE 
COUNTRY'S INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND REMOVE WHAT DIPLOMATS SAY IS
ONE OF ITS MOST PERSISTENT PROBLEMS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
28-Jan-99 4:37 PM EST (2137 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.