§ Mr. Edgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will grant official recognition to the Fretlin provisional government of East Timor; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsI am not aware that a provisional government has been established in East Timor. The territory is the responsibility of the Government of Portugal. My hon. Friend will know that at a meeting in Rome between the Portuguese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers it has been agreed that the Portuguese will arrange an early meeting with all political groups in East Timor to end the civil war there and speed decolonisation. Her Majesty's Government would favour the achievement of a solution on the basis of self-determination.