Alan Shatter
Ceist:17 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the evolving situation in East Timor. [4383/99]
Written Answers. - East Timor.
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:27 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's views on the proposed UN supervised ballot in East Timor; if Ireland will provide personnel for any UN role subsequent to any ballot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/99]
Jim Higgins
Ceist:43 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to visit Indonesia. [4385/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 27 and 43 together.
In recent weeks significant progress towards a resolution of the East Timor issue appears to have been made, although there are continuing doubts about the extent of the commitment of the Indonesian Government in this regard.
Of primary importance have been the talks between the Portuguese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers which have been taking place at the United Nations in New York over the past six months. Reports from New York in the past week indicate that Indonesia is now prepared to offer special status with wide-ranging autonomy to East Timor. In return, however, Indonesia insists that the sovereignty which it claims over the territory would have to be recognised. If that should not prove to be acceptable to the East Timorese people following a consultation process, Indonesia has stated that the territory would be returned to Portugal as the former colonial power. It would then become the responsibility of Portugal to administer the processes of decolonisation and self-determination in the territory in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
It is not yet clear what form of consultative process may be put into operation in East Timor while the territory remains under Indonesian control, and this remains an issue of considerable concern. We believe that such a consultation process should be under UN supervision. I have every confidence, however, that the UN Secretary General and his Special Envoy, Ambassador Marker, will make all possible efforts to ensure that a fair and accurate exercise will be undertaken.
In my statement issued on 1 February, I stressed Ireland's readiness to offer assistance to the United Nations should it be decided to dispatch observers or monitors to East Timor in order to oversee the ceasefire and the military withdrawal which I hope will soon be put in place. This offer of assistance extends also to the consultation process once satisfactory arrangements have been agreed.
I have already made known my intention to visit Jakarta at an early date in order to meet the Timorese resistance leader, Xanana Gusmao, who has recently been moved from prison to house arrest. The purpose of my visit would be to show solidarity with the East Timorese cause and to support the efforts being made in Indonesia to promote a just settlement leading to self-determination for the people of East Timor.