---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, July 13 1999 E.Timor: RI Constantly Promoting Security Dili, July 12 (ANTARA)- Foreign Minister Ali Alatas made it clear that the Indonesian government is constantly trying to promote peace in East Timor especially in the run-up to the UN-run direct vote on the future of the former Portuguese colony. "We strongly believe that the situation in East Timor has become increasingly favourable. The leadership of CNRT, including jailed Xanana Gusmao, have actively contributed to achieve this end," Alatas told the media in Dili on Monday. He said the 14 cabinet ministers visiting the youngest Indonesian province for about six hours (10 am to 4 pm) were bolstering coordination in the social, economic and security sectors. The ministers, led by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung, arrived in the troubled province on Monday. The displayed the Indonesian government's seriousness in the implementation the popular consultation under the result of the tripartite dialogue between Indonesia, Portugal and the UN in New York on May 5, 1999. The Indonesian government, he said, is giving the widest opportunities to all concerned to take part in the direct vote for the East Timorese people to see whether they wish to remain with Indonesia and a wide-ranging autonomy or prefer independence. He said he had discussed with the UNAMET measures to improve the security situation in East Timor. They talked about the recent unrest in Maliana and Liquica now still under investigation by local police. In the meantime, Defence and Security Minister/Military Chief General Wiranto pointed out that building lasting peace in the troubled province was not like turning the palm of one's hand. "The East Timorese have been living in one conflict after another for long years. Therefore it would take a long time to rebuild peace," he said at a meeting with local government authorities during the working visit along with 13 ministers. When asked about the possibility of the sending of a UN peace keeping force to East Timor, he said the tripartite accord reached in New York did not mention anything about the matter. If the situation in the province was not favourable, all the parties concerned would be obliged to overcome it, he said. Meanwhile, United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for East Timor Frances Vandrell after meeting Alatas said the Indonesian government was giving serious attention to promoting peace in the province in the run-up to the popular consultation slated next month. (U.DLI-02/DLI-03/DLI-PK01/PTU-05/INT-NG/21:37/NN01/22:12/TB04) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 16 Jul 1999 jam 06:55:52 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
