DATE=9/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U.S. - TIMOR (L)
NUMBER=2-253566
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States is waiting to decide
whether it will contribute troops to an international
peacekeeping force for East Timor until a UN Security
Council team dispatched to the Indonesian capital,
Jakarta completes an assessment of the situation.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White
House.
Text: Britain, Canada, Australia and several other
countries have already made commitments to take part
in a UN peacekeeping force in East Timor, which has
been wracked by violence in the aftermath of last
week's vote for independence.
But the Clinton administration - which has been
criticized by congressional Republicans for straining
U-S defense resources by taking on numerous
peacekeeping missions in recent years - is taking a
`wait-and-see' approach to contributing troops to a
force in East Timor.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart says the United
States will make its decision after a UN team
dispatched to Jakarta reports back to the Security
Council.
// LOCKHART ACTUALITY //
As we have said for some time now, the
Indonesian government is responsible for
restoring a secure environment and accepting the
wishes of the people there, which they have
agreed to do. Now we want to see the results.
The UN team will report back within the next
couple of days, and make an assessment on any
potential international peacekeeping force, and
we will take a look at that recommendation.
// END ACT //
The five-member team - from Britain, the Netherlands,
Namibia, Malaysia and Slovenia - is hoping to press
the Indonesian government to do more to exert control
over the rampaging militias, policemen and soldiers in
East Timor.
The situation in the territory is expected to be a key
issue at an Asia-Pacific trade summit in New Zealand
later this week, according to White House spokesman
Lockhart. President Clinton - who discussed East
Timor by phone with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
and Australian Prime Minister John Howard Monday -
will attend the meeting. (Signed)
Neb/DAT/LTD/KL
07-Sep-1999 14:08 PM EDT (07-Sep-1999 1808 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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