Subject: etpost - USGOV: East Timor Peace Pact
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 10:41:38 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>EPF406 04/22/99 TEXT: STATE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ON EAST TIMOR PEACE PACT (Pact should be implemented immediately,
Rubin says) (360)
Washington -- The U.S. Department of State issued a statement April 21 welcoming the
five-point East Timor peace agreement concluded April 21 between the pro-independence
resistance (CNRT) and the pro-integration civilian militias.
In the statement, State Department Spokesman James Rubin said: "We applaud the
agreement's call to end all forms of 'hostility, intimidation, terror and violence' and
activation of a Peace and Stability Commission with participation by all signatory
parties."
Rubin said the peace pact should be implemented immediately through specific, effective
measures.
Following is the official text of the statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman
April 21, 1999
STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
EAST TIMOR PEACE PACT
The United States welcomes the 5-point East Timor peace agreement concluded April 21
between the pro-independence resistance (CNRT) and the pro-integration civilian militias.
We are encouraged that representatives of the Indonesian government (GOI), CNRT leader
Xanana Gusmao, the military (TNI), the Human Rights Commission, the pro-Jakarta civilian
militias, and the police signed the pact. Defense Minister General Wiranto and Bishop Belo
witnessed the peace agreement, and General Wiranto pledged to enforce it. We applaud the
agreement's call to end all forms of "hostility, intimidation, terror and
violence" and activation of a Peace and Stability Commission with participation by
all signatory parties.
The peace pact should be implemented immediately through specific, effective measures.
We urge the Peace and Stability Commission to move swiftly on reconciliation dialogue and
other confidence building actions. The Indonesian military should take immediate steps to
disarm all groups on the island, both pro-integration militias and FALINTIL, an action
that could be advanced by immediately permitting an international presence in East Timor.
We also call upon Indonesia and Portugal to make their best efforts in New York this week
to conclude an autonomy agreement and establish a consultative mechanism of the East
Timorese people. We further urge the Government of Indonesia to facilitate the flow of
humanitarian assistance, particularly medical care, to East Timor.
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