---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S UNAMET UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN EAST TIMOR Misi Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa Di Timor Timur REMARKS MADE AT THE CEREMONY LAUNCHING THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE POPULAR CONSULTATION UNAMET HEADQUARTERS, DILI, EAST TIMOR SATURDAY, 14 AUGUST 1999 Ian Martin: I want to welcome all of you this afternoon, and particular the representatives of the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal, the signatories to the historic 5th of May agreement. I will be opening this afternoon's event on behalf of UNAMET. I will then call upon each of the parties to speak with two speakers representing each of the two sides of the issue. The meeting will then be closed by Ambassador Jamsheed Marker, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General. This is an opening of a campaign, not a press conference, but I want to take this opportunity to invite representatives of the media to the press conference that Ambassador Marker will give at the conclusion of his visit to UNAMET on 10:30 a.m. on Monday. This event essentially belongs to the parties, but I just want to deliver a few short messages on behalf of UNAMET. First, I want to thank the voters of East Timor through the parties for the very positive response they have shown throughout the registration for the popular consultation. It is clear that the supporters of both options have shown great enthusiasm to show that they have their say on the 30th of August. Secondly, I want to thank the parties again for their agreement and commitment to the code of conduct for the campaign, which is intended to, and I trust will, ensure a peaceful campaign. That code of conduct is now being made known to the supporters of both sides locally and regional campaign committees involving UNAMET. The two sides and the Indonesian police are ensuring that it will be respected in all parts of the Territory throughout the campaign. This afternoon we have gone one step further and I want to thank the parties for their agreement that they should launch the campaign jointly as a show of unity between the parties as East Timorese. I want to emphasize that UNAMET's commitment and the purpose of the whole campaign is to provide the parties the opportunity to express their views freely. UNAMET itself will continue to ensure that the autonomy proposal, on which the people of East Timor will be voting, is fully understood throughout the Territory. We will be continuing our public information work to ensure that all voters understand the process of the consultation, that this will be a fair and secret ballot, and that the United Nations will remain in East Timor after the ballot to assist in the implementation of either option. There have been banners with different messages in the streets of East Timor, and I hope there will be many more banners with more messages, all of them peaceful. Now you see that UNAMET has decided that it too must have banners as part of its public information. The most important message is the message that the parties themselves will convey to the people of East Timor. I want to ask the media to convey the messages to the parties as equally, fairly and accurately. With those words I am going to call on two speakers from each of the two sides to open this campaign at this joint meeting, and to give the microphones first to the representatives of the CNRT (pro-independence party). Jamsheed Marker: Distinguished Leaders of the political parties, Ladies and Gentleman, on this important, if not historical occasion, I bring to you the greetings and the congratulations of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan. What you have embarked upon today, the implementation of the essential democratic process of discussion, debate and campaigning in a civilized manner, of putting peace and unity and brotherhood above all party considerations is the essence of democracy. For years the eyes of the world have been on East Timor. Over the last few weeks the hearts of the world have been gladdened by two involvement developments. The first is the enthusiasm and the peaceful manner in which the overwhelming population of East Timor went forward to register themselves and make this commitment to the democratic process. The second is the serious commitment made by the political leaders to implement this process through peaceful negotiations, through peaceful campaigning and through the peaceful explanation of their points of view so that the people of East Timor can be able to decide their future. I don't want to say much more. You have heard some very inspiring statements and very hopeful statements. The future of East Timor is in your hands and in your hearts. I would only wish to say two things on behalf of the Secretary-General. The first is the commitment to the total neutrality of the United Nations in this great endeavor. The only preference that the United Nations has is for peace. Where peace is concerned the United Nations is not neutral. It is determined and committed to working for peace all over the world. The second is the assurance of the Secretary-General of the continuity of the United Nations presence in East Timor; a decision that has not only been taken by the Secretary-General, but by the entire Membership of the United Nations. The United Nations presence will continue in East Timor in its continuous efforts to assist you in building your future. Please be assured on both these points. Thank you very much. May God bless you and may God protect you in this great endeavor. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 16 Aug 1999 jam 13:06:54 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
