MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER

2 June 1999

East Timor - Military Liaison Officers

I welcome Indonesia's agreement to the deployment of United Nations military liaison officers in East Timor for the August ballot.

This follows a request by the UN Secretary-General, as foreshadowed in his 22 May report to the Security Council, to assign military liaison officers to East Timor, to liaise with their Indonesian counterparts in order to assist UNAMET in the discharge of its responsibilities regarding security.

A secure, peaceful environment in East Timor is essential for the success of the August ballot and the deployment of UN military liaison officers is an important step in this direction.

In this context, I also welcome General Wiranto's recent comments that the Indonesian Armed Forces would uphold their responsibility to ensure that security and order are maintained in East Timor.

Australia remains fully supportive of the UN consultation process and will consider any request from the UN to contribute to the military liaison officer deployment.