---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, Aug 24 1999 E Timor: No Change In Ballot date, Says Foreign Minister Jakarta, Aug 23 (ANTARA)- Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said until today (Monday, aug 23) there was no change in the date for the ballot to be held in East Timor by the UN, namely August 30. "Up till today, we are holding on to Jamsheed Marker's statement that there will be no postponement of the ballot, so the date is still August 30," Alatas told newsmen after a ministerial meeting here Monday. He said the security situation in the province has continued to improve although minor instances of violance occured here and there but were quickly overcome. In the Indonesian government's view, the present situation in the region is conducive for the ballot. Alatas said adding that some 440,000 eligible voters had been registered. About reports that a few US Senators would propose the sending of a UN peacekeeping force to East Timor. Alatas said it was their personal opinion. "It's their business, their personal opinion, not the US government's official stance," Alatas said. He said any party could have its own opinion about East Timor but Indonesia's internal policy on the issue would not be influenced by it. "People may have their own opinion," he said adding that he was scheduled to meet with US Congressmen in the United Nations. The entire vote-counting process-from the collecting of the ballot boxes to the vote-counting proper- would be conducted in a transparent manner and witnessed by the concerned parties, Alatas said. (T/PTU01/NN06/17:40/INTAJM 00:30/ri) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 27 Aug 1999 jam 03:37:44 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
