THIRD ALL-INCLUSIVE INTRA-EAST TIMORESE DIALOGUE BEGINS IN AUSTRIA
Press Release
SG/2040
THIRD ALL-INCLUSIVE INTRA-EAST TIMORESE DIALOGUE BEGINS IN AUSTRIA
19971020 A third meeting of the All-inclusive Intra-East Timorese Dialogue started today at Krambach Castle, Austria, with a statement by the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor, Jamsheed Marker. The meeting, which will continue until Thursday, 23 October, is a follow-up to the two meetings also held in Austria in June 1995 and March 1996. All are closed meetings.The Dialogue is a process that was initiated by the Secretary-General in 1995, within the framework of his good offices on the question of East Timor. The Secretary-General facilitates and provides the necessary arrangements for the Dialogue. The United Nations attends the proceedings without taking part in the discussions. The Dialogue is not a parallel track to the tripartite negotiating process between Indonesia and Portugal under the auspices of the Secretary-General and does not address the political status of East Timor. It is a forum designed to complement the tripartite talks through the informal exchange of views among East Timorese of all shades of political opinion, to explore practical ideas that might have a positive impact on the situation in East Timor, and assist in the establishment of an atmosphere conducive to the achievement of a solution to the question of East Timor.
The first meeting took place at Burg Schlaining from 3 to 5 June 1995, with the participation of 30 East Timorese. The second meeting was held at the same venue from 19 to 22 March 1996; the list of participants remained unchanged. Both meetings adopted declarations that covered important issues of relevance to the situation in East Timor. The proposals that have emerged from the Dialogue have been considered at the tripartite talks, and consultations are being conducted on those relating to the establishment of an East Timorese cultural centre in Dili and on possible assistance from Portugal in human resources development in East Timor.
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