Briefing Summary for Friday, 30 July 1999
UNAMET Spokesman David Wimhurst reminded correspondents that Mr. Alexander Downer, Foreign Minister of Australia, was in Dili this morning and would be visiting UNAMET Headquarters. He will be meeting with the Special Representative, Mr. Ian Martin, and heads of UNAMET sections. Afterwards, he will be meeting with UNAMET's Australian contingent.
Another meeting this morning is between General Adam Damiri and Colonel Tono Suratman who will be visiting UNAMET headquarters and will meet with the Chief Military Liaison Officer, Brigadier Rezaqul Haider.
Continuing, Mr. Wimhurst said, all 200 registration centres are open today and operating normally. Today is a fifth day of registration, which means all information is collated and collected and therefore the centres will only be open in the morning.
A correspondent asked the Spokesman if he could give a count to date of registered people. He said he would only be able to give a total figure at the end of registration in addition to the halfway figure of approximately 240,000 already given.
A correspondent asked by whose initiative was the meeting between General Damiri, Colonel Suratman and Brigadier Haider and what they would be discussing. The Spokesman said Brigadier Haider visited General Damiri in Bali and this is a return visit. He said, matters of mutual interest to the Military Liaison Officers and the TNI would be under discussion. They work closely together and they will be continuing to discuss the ways in which they operate and how things are going across the territory.
The Spokesman was asked if UNAMET was satisfied with the disengagement of TNI with their day-to-day operation in East Timor. Mr. Wimhurst said the TNI had to be neutral and UNAMET is monitoring their neutrality closely in the sense that the military liaison officers are in contact with them across the territory.
A correspondent asked whether General Anwar (sp.) was included in the meeting this morning. The Spokesman said he was not on the list of participants
The Spokesman was asked if the policy of TNI forces being prohibited from carrying their weapons outside of their compounds was a rigid policy. He said the rule implied that the TNI forces are not allowed to carry weapons when they were at registration centres.
Finally, a correspondent asked what progress had been made on the cantonment of FALINTIL forces and where the cantonments were located. Mr. Wimhurst said Mr. Martin had met with Xanana Gusmao in Jakarta on Wednesday for three hours and that subject formed part of the discussion. He added, FALINTIL is committed to this cantonment although the areas have yet to be publicized. The discussions are ongoing.
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