Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held trilateral talks Monday with Timor-Leste's and Indonesian officials on recent violence in Timor-Leste and last week's jailbreak of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado.
Downer arrived at Timor-Leste's capital of Dili Sunday night and held talks with Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta and Foreign Minister Jose Luis Guterres and Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda Monday.
Downer had a blunt message for Timor-Leste that it must get on top of its security problems rather than depend solely on international assistance from Australia and the United Nations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.
Downer said Australia is concerned about the security situation in Timor-Leste following Reinado's jailbreak with other 56 prisoners.
"We obviously, obviously continue to be concerned about the security situation, the outbreaks of violent incidents, though the advice I have is that the situation is somewhat better than it has been, so we're pleased about that," he said.
However, Downer restated Australia's commitment to maintaining some troops in Timor-Leste to support the UN peacekeeping mission.
Ramos Horta expressed optimism that his country will soon be able to overcome its security problems.
(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2006)
