DATE=10/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N/East Timor Update (L-Only)
NUMBER=2-267874
BYLINE=Larry Freund
DATELINE=New York
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The foreign minister of Indonesia Alwi Shihab met in New York Thursday with the United Nations Security Council, then confirmed that a Security Council delegation will visit Indonesia next month to evaluate the situation in the West Timor refugee camps. More from correspondent Larry Freund in New York.
TEXT: The Indonesian foreign minister emerged from a closed-door meeting with the Security Council and said he was extremely happy with the discussion. Mr. Shihab said the Council members appreciated steps Indonesia has taken to disarm militias in West Timor and the arrest of a suspect in the murder of three U-N relief workers in West Timor in September.
Mr. Shihab confirmed that a Security Council delegation will visit Indonesia during the week of November 13th to review the situation in the West Timor refugee camps. Indonesia had earlier turned down the visit.
In separate remarks, the U-S representative to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, said Indonesia took a step in the right direction by arresting the suspect in connection with the killing of the U-N relief workers. Mr. Holbrooke said the United States is deeply concerned about the situation in the West Timor camps and the arming of the militias. But he said as far as the United Nations is concerned, Indonesia is acting in the direction it had said it would be moving in. The U-N Security Council has called on Indonesia to take several measures to restore law and order in West Timor, including disarming and disbanding the militia there.
Mr. Holbrooke told reporters he is concerned about U-N relief workers returning to West Timor. But Indonesian Foreign Minister Shihab said his country would like to see them come back.
/// SHIHAB ACT ///
From New York, you cannot sense the security
situation. But I was there and I can sense that
the security is under control. So sooner or
later they will come back. Doubt is legitimate
from Holbrooke's side, but rest assured that we
are more concerned than anybody else to
establish security and stability in our country.
/// END ACT ///
Earlier Thursday, East Timorese leader Jose Ramos-Horta urged the Security Council to establish an international tribunal for human rights abuses committed in East Timor. The Indonesian foreign minister said Indonesia does not need an international tribunal as long as it can prove to the world that it can bring to justice those violating human rights. And U-S representative Holbrooke said there are not enough votes in the U-N Security Council to approve a tribunal. (Signed)
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