SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING ON EAST TIMOR POSTPONED UNTIL 21 APRIL, TO ALLOW FINAL PREPARATION OF AUTONOMY PROPOSAL
Press Release
SG/SM/6953
SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING ON EAST TIMOR POSTPONED UNTIL 21 APRIL, TO ALLOW FINAL PREPARATION OF AUTONOMY PROPOSAL
19990409 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The senior officials meeting on East Timor, which had been scheduled for 13 and 14 April, has been postponed to 21 April at the request of the Indonesian Government, which is finalizing the text of the autonomy proposal. The date for the meeting of the Secretary-General and the Foreign Ministers remains unchanged: 22 April.
With regard to the killings that have taken place in the town of Liquica in the last few days, the Secretary-General has spoken to President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal and the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Jamsheed Marker, has been in touch with both Foreign Ministers, Jaime Gama of Portugal and Ali Alatas of Indonesia. The United Nations has also been in touch with church leaders and other East Timorese figures. The Indonesian Government has responded positively to the suggestion by the United Nations that an impartial inquiry be undertaken to establish the facts surrounding the killings.
In New York, at 6 p.m. on 9 April, Mr. Marker will meet with Jose Ramos- Horta, Vice President of the National Council of Timorese Resistance and the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner.
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