DATE=4/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248481
TITLE=U-N / TIMOR TALKS / DAY TWO (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA BEGAN A
NEW ROUND OF U-N SPONSORED TALKS ON EAST TIMOR TODAY (THURSDAY)
IN NEW YORK. AS V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS,
THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AN AUTONOMY PLAN FOR THE
FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY.
TEXT: ENTERING THE TALKS, PORTUGUESE FOREIGN MINISTER JAIME GAMA
URGED INDONESIA TO DO MORE TO CONTROL THE SECURITY SITUATION IN
EAST TIMOR, FOLLOWING WEEKS OF VIOLENCE IN THE TERRITORY. HIS
INDONESIAN COUNTERPART, ALI ALATAS, DID NOT COMMENT ON THAT ISSUE
BUT DISMISSED SUGGESTIONS THAT U-N PEACEKEEPING TROOPS ARE NEEDED
IN EAST TIMOR.
THOSE COMMENTS CAME AS THE TWO FOREIGN MINISTERS BEGAN A MEETING
WITH U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT
ESTABLISHING AN AUTONOMY PLAN FOR THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY OF
EAST TIMOR, WHICH WAS INVADED BY INDONESIA IN 1975 AND ANNEXED
THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE ON
FRIDAY.
MR. ALATAS, OF INDONESIA, SAYS THE LATEST TALKS ARE COVERING THE
CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AUTONOMY AND THE TERMS FOR WHAT THE
UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER PARTIES WILL DO IN THE EVENT OF A
REJECTION OR ACCEPTANCE OF AUTONOMY.
THE PORTUGUESE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE IS LESS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE CONTENTS OF THE AUTONOMY PACKAGE AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE OF
EAST TIMOR ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE THE TERRITORY'S
FUTURE.
A VOTE ON AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR IS EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE VOTE WILL LIKELY BE A FIRST STEP
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR. INDONESIA OPPOSED
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TERRITORY UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN IT
REVERSED ITS POLICY AND SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER THE ISSUE. THE
UNITED NATIONS IS EXPECTED TO ASSIST WITH THE AUTONOMY POLL.
DETAILS OF THE U-N ROLE IN THE VOTE HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR
22-Apr-99 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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