HC Deb 23 January 1995 vol 253 c40W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he supports United Nations policy that Indonesia should resolve the dispute over East Timor through a referendum of the people of East Timor.

Mr. Goodlad

We support the UN Secretary-General's efforts to promote a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement to the question of East Timor, taking account of the wishes and interests of the East Timorese. He informed the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia on 9 January of his intention to facilitate the convening of an "all-inclusive infra-Fast Timorese dialogue" to help establish an atmosphere conducive to achieving a solution, which we welcome. The question of a referendum did not arise.