DATE=8/31/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U.S.- EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253311
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=AUBURN, NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton, who is on vacation in New
York state, has discussed the situation in East Timor
by phone with his National Security Adviser Sandy
Berger and with the Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio
Guterres. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the
White House press center in Auburn, New York.
TEXT: Though there were several incidents of violence
during and after Monday's independence referendum in
East Timor, White House officials say the process was
relatively peaceful given the troubled history of the
territory. And they say the voter turnout - which was
far in excess of 90-percent of those eligible - was an
encouraging sign of a better future there.
President Clinton telephoned Portuguese Prime Minister
Antonio Guterres to discuss the vote, the terms of
which were negotiated with Indonesia by Portugal,
which was the colonial power in East Timor before its
departure in 1975. The President was also briefed on
the situation by National Security Adviser Sandy
Berger.
At a briefing here, White House spokesman Jake Siewert
said there were grounds for encouragement about the
vote process despite reports Tuesday of militia
violence directed against United Nations staff
personnel, among others:
/// SIEWERT ACTUALITY ///
This is an area that has, historically been
deeply troubled by violence. And there were
some incidents that were disturbing. At the
same time, particularly given what people had
expected, this was a relatively peaceful
process, a very high turnout, some very
encouraging signs. We'll wait and see what the
U.N. has to say at the end of the week.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Siewert said the President sent a message to
Indonesian Prime Minister B-J Habibie last week
stressing the importance of a free and fair election
and saying that the Administration will keep a very
close eye on the process as it moves forward,
including the U-N supervised vote count which is set
to begin Wednesday.
At the State Department, spokesman James Foley said
the fact that virtually all those who had registered
to vote actually went to the polls was, as he put it,
"an extraordinary demonstration" of the desire of the
people of East Timor to have a say in their own
future.
He also praised the U-N officials who supervised the
balloting for their service in the face of significant
obstacles and dangers - an implied reference to pro-
Jakarta militiamen who staged weeks of violent
incidents in an effort to derail the balloting.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/gm
31-Aug-1999 18:05 PM EDT (31-Aug-1999 2205 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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