SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES INDONESIAN ASSEMBLY"S VOIDING OF DECREE INTEGRATING EAST TIMOR INTO INDONESIA

Press Release
SG/SM/7188

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES INDONESIAN ASSEMBLY’S VOIDING OF DECREE INTEGRATING EAST TIMOR INTO INDONESIA

The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the resolution by the People’s Consultative Assembly of Indonesia declaring void the 1978 decree which integrated East Timor into Indonesia. This formal step is in accordance with the 5 May Agreement between Indonesia and Portugal, which was concluded under the auspices of the United Nations, and based on the result of the popular consultation conducted on 30 August 1999.

The Secretary-General has put forward a plan for a United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, which is now before the Security Council. The Council’s decision is expected in the near future.

Meanwhile, the Secretariat has initiated a number of preliminary steps with a view to ensuring the prompt establishment of such an administration.

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