DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250969
TITLE=TIMOR VOTE POSTPONED (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS IS POSTPONING THE SCHEDULED AUGUST
EIGHTH VOTE ON THE FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR. CORRESPONDENT LARRY
FREUND REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS THERE
WILL BE A BRIEF DELAY IN THE EAST TIMOR VOTE, BUT ADDS THAT THE
BALLOT WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST. MR. ANNAN MADE HIS REMARKS ON
HIS ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW (TUESDAY) FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TOLD REPORTERS CERTAIN CONDITIONS HAVE TO
BE FULFILLED BEFORE THE VOTE TAKES PLACE, INCLUDING WHAT HE
DESCRIBES AS A SECURITY SITUATION THAT IS CONDUCIVE AND
APPROPRIATE. ALSO, HE SAYS, THERE ARE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS TO BE
SOLVED. AS A RESULT, HE ADDS, THE VOTE IS BEING POSTPONED FROM
AUGUST EIGHTH TO ANOTHER UN-NAMED DATE IN AUGUST. HE EMPHASIZES
THAT THE EAST TIMORESE WILL HAVE A FREE CHOICE.
THERE HAD BEEN EARLIER REPORTS THAT THE REFERENDUM ON THE FUTURE
OF EAST TIMOR WOULD BE DELAYED AS A RESULT OF GROWING VIOLENCE IN
THE TERRITORY. A NUMBER OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CLASHES
BETWEEN THOSE FAVORING CONTINUED RULE BY INDONESIA AND THOSE WHO
WANT INDEPENDENCE.
THE AUGUST EIGHTH DATE FOR THE U-N - SUPERVISED BALLOT WAS
FORMALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL EARLIER THIS
MONTH. VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AUTONOMY UNDER
INDONESIAN RULE AND INDEPENDENCE. IN ITS RESOLUTION ON THE VOTE,
THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN AT WHAT IT CALLED THE
EXTREMELY TENSE AND VOLATILE SECURITY SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR.
THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO HOLD PRIVATE TALKS ON THE SITUATION
IN EAST TIMOR ON WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/LSF/WTW
22-Jun-99 4:06 PM EDT (2006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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