DATE=9/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=APEC / EAST TIMOR (L)
NUMBER=2-253633
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=AUCKLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Foreign Ministers and senior officials from
Asia-Pacific nations and from Britain met Thursday in
Auckland -- on the fringes of an economic forum -- to
figure out how to help restore peace in East Timor.
As Amy Bickers reports from New Zealand, they say they
want to see the violence end as soon as possible, but
did not offer any new proposals toward a solution.
Text: The foreign ministers and senior officials from
20 nations met Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC
forum in Auckland. They issued a statement expressing
grave concerns about the worsening bloodshed in East
Timor.
The statement increases the diplomatic pressure on
Indonesia to put an end to the violence or to agree to
the deployment of a U-N / backed peacekeeping force.
The group also offered peacekeeping support, under the
U-N umbrella. So far, the Indonesian government has
rejected the idea of a foreign force in the territory.
At an Auckland news conference, New Zealand Foreign
Minister Don McKinnon said the officials would back
the recommendations of a U-N Security Council team now
in Indonesia.
/// MCKINNON ACTUALITY ///
This issue is much bigger than this ministerial
meeting, this is issue is much bigger than APEC. The
whole issue belongs firmly in New York and Jakarta.
And the ministers here are very firm in their support
of the secretary general, of the security council, of
the U-N and in actively encouraging a resolution. We
will be doing what we can but it is bigger than us.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
U-K Foreign Secretary Robin Cook -- who represented
the European Union at the Pacific regional meeting --
told journalists that the recent democratic advances
in Indonesia and East Timor are now under threat.
/// COOK ACTUALITY ///
The message from today's meeting is that that outcome
must be accepted and must be implemented and I say to
the minority in East Timor, trying to frustrate that
ballot by violence, you will not succeed. The violence
is not only brutal, it is futile. The world has heard
East Timor's plea for independence and the world will
expect it to be translated into reality.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. McKinnon said he would be calling both the U-N
Secretary General Kofi Annan and Indonesian Foreign
Minister Ali Alatas to convey the concerns and ideas
of his counterparts.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AB/GC/wd
09-Sep-1999 00:30 AM LOC (09-Sep-1999 0430 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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