Subject: US rules out sending armed UN peacekeepers
to E.Timor
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 17:36:44 EDT
From: Joyo@aol.comUS sees no prospect for sending armed UN peacekeepers to East Timor
WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (AFP) - The United States on Monday restated its concern about
continued anti-separatist violence in East Timor but ruled out sending armed UN
peacekeepers before the self-rule referendum late this month.
"We don't believe that the dispatch of armed UN peacekeepers before August 30 is
possible at this point," State Department spokesman James Foley told reporters.
"We've got seven days before the vote takes place," Foley said, not an
adequate window to revisit the security arrangements.
"Moreover, in a more fundamental sense, we believe this is the responsibility of
the government of Indonesia, and we don't want to take that responsibility away from
them," he continued.
A US congressional delegation, led by senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, toured East Timor
over the weekend and urged Washington to press the UN Security Council to deploy an armed
peacekeeping force in the Indonesian-ruled territory before the August 30 vote.
Foley noted that 280 civilian police and 50 military liaison officers were currently
authorized as part of the UN mission in East Timor.
He stressed that the UN Security Council was expected to vote Friday on recommendation
by UN Chief Kofi Annan that the civilian police be boosted to 460 and the military liaison
unit to 300 officers until November 30.
"We share the concerns expressed by Senator Harkin and others about continued
violence and intimidation on the part of the pro-integration militias in the campaign
before next Monday's autonomy vote," Foley said. "We are regularly raising this
concern, as does the UN, with key officials."
Despite the violence, the spokesman said Washington was hopeful the referendum would be
held on schedule. "We very much call on all sides to look beyond the vote and to do
all possible to ensure that the stability of East Timor is preserved, regardless of the
outcome," he added.
The Jakarta government has said it may grant freedom to the former Portuguese colony it
annexed in 1976, if the people of the territory reject the autonomy offer.
Campaigning in East Timor is due to end on Friday.
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