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)
