Subject: AP: EU warns of pro-Indonesian militias on
East Timor
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 12:03:46 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>EU warns of pro-Indonesian
militias on East Timor
07/19/1999 Associated Press Newswires Copyright 1999. The Associated Press. All Rights
Reserved.
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Foreign ministers from the European Union on Monday urged
Indonesia to curb the "intimidatory behavior" of pro-Indonesian militias prior
to East Timor 's vote on independence or autonomy.
During a two-day open debate on foreign policy questions, primarily on the lessons to
be learned from the Kosovo crisis, the EU foreign ministers adopted a statement on East
Timor , expressing hope and concern.
The Council of foreign ministers warned that "fully satisfactory security
conditions for the peaceful implementation" of the balloting do not exist yet, but
applauded the United Nations for beginning voter registration.
"The coming weeks are crucial for the consultation to take place in a secure
environment devoid of violence or other forms of intimidation," they said.
"The Council continues to be deeply concerned about the situation in the
territory, in particular the intimidatory behavior of the pro-integration militias. ...
"The Council urged the Indonesian authorities to live up to their obligations ...
and to ensure that the necessary security conditions will be there before and during the
ballot in East Timor .
"The Council is convinced that this is in the long-term interest of Indonesia
itself," they added.
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