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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
April 21, 1999

East Timor Peace Pact

The United States welcomes the 5-point East Timor peace agreement concluded April 21 between the pro-independence resistance (CNRT) and the pro-integration civilian militias. We are encouraged that representatives of the Indonesian Government (GOI), CNRT leader Xanana Gusmao, the military (TNI), the Human Rights Commission, the pro-Jakarta civilian militias, and the police, signed the pact. Defense Minister General Wiranto and Bishop Belo witnessed the peace agreement, and General Wiranto pledged to enforce it. We applaud the agreement’s call to end all forms of "hostility, intimidation, terror and violence" and activation of a Peace and Stability Commission with participation by all signatory parties.

The peace pact should be implemented immediately through specific, effective measures. We urge the Peace and Stability Commission to move swiftly on reconciliation dialogue and other confidence-building actions. The Indonesian military should take immediate steps to disarm all groups on the island, both pro-integration militias and FALINTIL, an action that could be advanced by immediately permitting an international presence in East Timor. We also call upon Indonesia and Portugal to make their best efforts in New York this week to conclude an autonomy agreement and establish a consultative mechanism of the East Timorese people. We further urge the Government of Indonesia to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, particularly medical care, to East Timor.

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