U-N TIMOR EVACUATION DELAY


DATE=9/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N TIMOR EVACUATION DELAY (L-O)
NUMBER=2-253616
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=U-N
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The United Nations has delayed for 24 hours 
its decision to evacuate its staff in East Timor to 
Australia. Correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports 
from New York.
TEXT:  The decision to suspend the U-N pull-out for 
another day was made after Secretary-General Kofi 
Annan briefed the Security Council on plans to 
withdraw the U-N staff in the face of dwindling 
supplies and continuing threats from anti-independence 
militias.
U-N officials said Indonesia requested the delay in 
order to organize the evacuation and to give the 
United Nations time to prepare a small staff to stay 
behind. 
Following his meeting with the Security Council, Mr. 
Annan told reporters he had authorized the withdrawal 
but hoped some staff members would remain to help the 
East Timorese.
            /// Annan Act ///
      We are not only concerned about our staff, but 
      we are also concerned about the East Timorese, 
      particularly the two thousand internally 
      displaced persons in our compound.  That is why 
      I am taking measure to try and see if we can 
      thin out rather than withdraw completely so that 
      we can maintain our premises on the 
      understanding that the military around the 
      building will continue to provide protection.
            /// End Act ///
The Security Council issued a statement expressing 
"gravest concern" at the deteriorating security 
situation in East Timor, which precipitated the 
planned withdrawal. 
Security Council President Peter Van Walsum of the 
Netherlands, says the Council's main focus is on the 
high level mission it dispatched to Jakarta earlier 
this week.  The delegation is meeting with top 
Indonesian officials, including President B-J Habibie. 
The delegation is expected to discuss the possibility 
of Indonesia giving the United Nations a go-ahead to 
send in troops to calm the situation. 
            /// Rest Opt ///
The Security Council, Ambassador Van Walsum says, 
wants a quick resolution to the situation in East 
Timor.  
            /// Van Walsum Act ///
      They shared the view of the Secretary-General 
      that if the security situation does not improve 
      within a very sort period of time, the council 
      will need to consider further action to help the 
      government of Indonesia achieve this objective, 
      taking into account the view of the Security 
      Council mission in Jakarta.
            /// End Act ///
Meanwhile, Portugal's Ambassador to the United 
Nations, Antonio Monteiro, has called on the United 
Nations to send in troops to stop the violence without 
waiting for an invitation.  East Timor was a 
Portuguese colony until Indonesia invaded the 
territory in 1975 and annexed it a year later.
But Secretary-General Annan says nations that have 
offered to send troops would prefer the consent of the 
Indonesian government. (Signed)
NEB/BJS/BA/TVM/PT
08-Sep-1999 17:37 PM LOC (08-Sep-1999 2137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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