Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - East Timor.

Liz McManus

Question:

69 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intends to take or promote any initiative regarding the situation in East Timor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14718/97]

Derek McDowell

Question:

88 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, taken by his Department in recent weeks in relation to East Timor. [14730/97]

The Government is seriously concerned at the situation in East Timor. I expressed our concerns in my address last week to the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In accordance with the EU Common Position on East Timor which was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 25 June 1996, Ireland actively supports international efforts to promote respect for human rights and to bring about a just and peaceful solution to the East Timor question which fully respects the interests and legitimate aspirations of the Timorese people.
The Government supports the current talks between the Portuguese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Annan. I am glad to be able to report to the House that the latest meeting, the ninth round, last June in New York was constructive and led to agreement on a new framework to continue more frequent discussions at a nonministerial level. Agreement was also reached to have an open agenda, to include such subjects as military questions, migration, human rights and "timorisation" of the regime in the territory. The first of these lower level meetings took place on 4-8 August.
The Government also supports the decision by the two Foreign Ministers to continue the intraTimorese dialogue between broadly pro-independence and pro-integration groups. I understand that the third in this series of meetings is to take place next month in Austria.
Ireland co-sponsored the resolution on the "Situation on Human Rights in East Timor" which was adopted at the Commission on Human Rights held in Geneva in April of this year. This resolution calls on the Government of Indonesia to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of East Timor as well as to ensure the early release of East Timorese detained or convicted for political reasons.
The Government believes that the appointment of the UN Special Envoy for East Timor, Ambassador Jamsheed Marker, and the work he has already done should provide a new impetus towards a peaceful and just solution to the situation in East Timor.
The two East Timor leaders, Bishop Belo and Mr. Ramos-Horta, have both been received on separate visits in my Department in the recent past. The Government will continue to monitor the situation in East Timor very closely and to play an active role, particularly within the European Union, in the seeking of a solution to the plight of the people of East Timor.
Top
Share