§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had148W with his UN counterparts concerning the remaining East Timorese refugees in West Timor; and if he will make a statement. [142217]
§ Mr. BattleWe take every opportunity to discuss the situation in West Timor with the UN counterparts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with the Indonesian Foreign Minister Shihab in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. I discussed the subject most recently with the Indonesian Foreign Minister on 12 December, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting.
We are, of course, concerned about the situation in the camps in West Timor and urge the Government of Indonesia to comply fully with the terms of the UN Security Council Resolution 1319 to disarm and disband the militia and facilitate the repatriation of those refugees who wish to return to East Timor and resettle those who wish to remain in Indonesia.