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Statement by New York, 20 February 2004
Let me first express my delegation’s gratitude to you for the opportunity to participate in this meeting. Under your presidency this month, we trust that the Council will enjoy significant progress in dealing with the issues on its agenda. The delegation of Indonesia always regards highly any debate relating to Timor-Leste, particularly because of its historical, socio-economic and cultural ties with Indonesia. Indonesia also recognizes the role of the international community in helping the process of development of Timor-Leste as a young nation. Furthermore, Indonesia acknowledges the important role being played by UNMISET, whose mandate will end by May 2004. In this connection, we hope that Indonesia’s contributions to the successful implementation of UNMISET’s mandate in Timor-Leste will be recognized by the international community. From the very beginning, Indonesia demonstrated its unwavering interest in developing friendly ties with Timor Leste. As a result, the Government-to-Government relationship between both nations has increasingly been strengthened. This relationship is characterized by strong commitment at the highest political level, regular visits by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the establishment of the Joint Ministerial Commission, the Joint Border Committee and other bilateral mechanisms. In May 2002, President Megawati Soekarnoputri undertook her first state visit to Timor Leste to participate in the new nation’s Independence Day celebrations. That was the beginning of the development of strong bilateral cooperation between both nations. Two months later, in July 2002, President Xanana Gusmao also paid a state visit to Jakarta. In October 2002, the Indonesia-Timor Leste Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which was set up in July 2002 on the heels of President Megawati’s state visit to facilitate consultation and cooperation, met for the first time in Jakarta. The Commission established several working groups to deal with border issues, trade and finance, legal matters, educational and cultural affairs, and transport and telecommunication. The Commission’s second meeting took place in Dili.
Similarly, at the regional level in
October 2002, Indonesia’s Southwest Pacific Dialogue initiative
was realized. The Dialogue encompasses Australia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Timor-Leste, which was a founding
partner and participant. Indonesia was also quick to encourage Timor
Leste’s involvement in ASEAN meetings as a mechanism for its
further integration into longer term relationships in the region.
As a nation, Indonesia is proud of its contributions to the emergence
of Timor Leste by these and other initiatives. I must stress that it is unfortunate -- and a matter of regret -- that the report contains unnecessary notions that do not accurately reflect the facts of the matter and are capable of being interpreted negatively. For instance the report suggests that “tensions arose following the conduct of military exercises by the Indonesian armed forces without prior knowledge by their Timorese counterparts, on an uninhabited island near Oecussi whose ownership has not been formally agreed by both countries.” Firstly, no tension arose in connection with this matter in December 2003. Secondly, existing legal national and international documents show that the uninhabited location in reference, Batek Island, belongs to Indonesia. As a result of this situation, therefore, no need has arisen for a formal agreement concerning the ownership of the island, as the report suggests. While the Indonesian navy did conduct a small and routine exercise on the island, it did so squarely within the Indonesian territory. In addition, that exercise on the island was one of a regular series that it undertakes all over the territory of Indonesia. It was not, and was not supposed to be, a show of force, as some media reports later tried to portray. On the question of refugees, it is important to remember that through close cooperation between the two Governments and with UNHCR, more than 200,000 refugees have returned voluntarily to Timor-Leste. As of December 2002, Indonesia had declared that there were no more refugees from Timor Leste. The remaining 28,000 East Timorese who opted to stay in Indonesia are now being processed as Indonesian citizens and will be relocated within Indonesia. They will be equally treated as other Indonesian citizens. The Government of Indonesia is prepared, however, to assist of any of them who voluntarily want to return to Timor-Leste. Let me now turn to the issue of the separated Timorese children. Since UNHCR will no longer be directly involved in this matter, the Government of Indonesia, in cooperation with the Government of Timor-Leste, will fully take care of the affected children through reunification and local integration. The UNHCR reported that as of December 2003, over 2000 cases had been resolved through reunification, with a further 385 cases still pending with UNHCR. In addition, there are many East Timorese children who live in Timor-Leste and are separated from their parents who are now in Indonesia, and should not be forgotten. The Government of Indonesia will work to meet the target date of the end of 2004 for resolving all the remaining cases. This matter is one of the issues on the agenda of the Joint Ministerial Commission between Indonesia and Timor Leste. Mr. President, Since Timor Leste’s independence one and a half years ago, both nations have worked hard to build a strong relationship on the basis of forward-looking policies, a commitment they have made at the highest political level. It is our hope that UNMISET will work to ensure that relations between both nations can flourish on the same assumptions of forward-looking policies after the mission itself is history. I would like to point out, in this regard, that Indonesia is the only country with a land border with Timor Leste. To that end, it no doubt has an important contribution to the development of that country, a role that we well recognize, and one that we fully accept and are prepared to play in the interest of its Government, as well as our brothers and sisters, the people of Timor Leste. Mr. President, Finally, Mr. President, Indonesia has continued to work in the best interest of all Indonesians, their neighbors, and the international community. The commitment and determination of the government to ensure improvements in Timor-Leste has been demonstrated in various ways. We urge the international community to recognize and take advantage of the progress that has been made, as Indonesia seeks to foster even better relations with Timor-Leste. Thank you.
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