(24 Feb 1999) English/Nat
Indonesia has given Australia permission to reopen its consulate in the disputed territory of East Timor, as the future of the troubled territory is being negotiated.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also announced that Australia was prepared to provide generous assistance to East Timor.
Indonesia has said that it might relinquish all control over the area if an offer of autonomy within the republic is rejected by the East Timorese.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has been taking part in talks with senior Indonesian cabinet ministers on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
On Wednesday, he said Indonesia had agreed to allow Australia to reopen a consulate in East Timor as part of a push to settle the future of the troubled territory.
He also announced Australia would provide "generous assistance" to East Timor - whether it stays part of Indonesia or becomes independent.
Downer added that Australia, near East Timor, would be willing to help it cope during any transitional period.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We've made it perfectly clear that we're prepared to provide generous assistance to East Timor whichever direction it goes, whether it decides to opt for the autonomy package or whether it decides to become independent and we've also talked a lot about the need for a smooth transition to what ever final status East Timor is going to accept"
SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Downer, Australian Foreign Minister
Australia is also asking the U-S, Japan and the European Union to set up an international diplomatic contact group on East Timor to work through relevant issues and perhaps coordinate aid.
Australia closed its consulate in East Timor's capital, Dili, in 1971 when the territory was still a Portuguese colony.
Indonesia invaded four years later and declared East Timor its 27th province in 1976.
Downer was unsure when the consulate would be operational but said the timing "would be in the not too distant future".
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"On the question of a consulate the Indonesian government is prepared in principle to allow us to proceed with the opening of a consulate, there will now be discussions about the precise timing because obviously security issues and the timing has some political sensitivity as well, we're pleased that the Indonesian government will allow us to reopen our consulate which has been closed since 1970 or 1971."
SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Downer, Australian Foreign Minister
Indonesia has offered to grant East Timor independence if its people reject an autonomy offer now being negotiated with Portugal through U-N-sponsored talks.
Recently, Australian Prime Minister John Howard raised concerns about a possible aid burden for his country should East Timor's people press for independence.
After more than two decades of guerrilla warfare and human rights abuses by the Indonesian military, the territory is in dire need of financial help.
Despite this, Downer said Australia would not limit its aid contribution.
The foreign minister is scheduled to visit Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on Thursday.
He will meet President B-J Habibie as well as East Timorese resistance leader Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmao, who was recently transferred from prison to house arrest.
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