§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position the United Kingdom has taken at the United Nations since 1974 on the legality of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.
§ Mr. GoodladWe do not recognise the Indonesian annexation of East Timor.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will support an economic embargo being imposed against Indonesia until that country ends its occupation of East Timor; and what other sanctions against Indonesia the British Government will support to assist bringing this occupation to an end.
§ Mr. GoodladNo. Sanctions would be neither appropriate nor effective.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings have been held between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Indonesian Government to discuss human rights issues in East Timor since January 1993.
§ Mr. GoodladOur regular discussions with the Indonesians cover a wide range of issues, including human rights.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the human rights situation in East Timor since March 1993.
§ Mr. GoodladWe believe that the human rights situation in East Timor continues steadily to improve.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in East Timor.
§ Mr. GoodladWe are encouraging Indonesia and Portugal to continue to co-operate with the United Nations Secretary-General to find a solution to East Timor. We therefore welcome the return to consensus language at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and hope that it will help provide an atmosphere conducive to progress at the next round of talks on the territory's future between Portugal and Indonesia under the Secretary-General's auspices in May.