PRESS STATEMENT ON EAST TIMOR
by the President of the United Nations Security Council

New York, 5 September 1999

Council members heard a briefing from the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs on 5 September 1999 on the deterioration of the situation in East Timor following the Secretary-General's announcement of the result of the Popular Consultation. They:

-- condemned in the strongest terms the intensifying violence in East Timor, in particular the further murders of UN local staff and the 4 September attack on UNAMET in Liquica, which resulted in the shooting of a UN international staff member;

-- underlined once again the responsibility of the Government of Indonesia to guarantee peace and security in East Timor, the safety and security of all UNAMET staff, local staff and premises;

-- were planning the despatch of a Security Council mission to discuss with the Government of Indonesia concrete steps to allow the peaceful implementation of the ballot result, and the Government of Indonesia has welcomed this intention;

-- welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General to bring forward his planning for UNAMET in the transition towards independence in East Timor;

-- will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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