UN mission holds meeting with Indonesia on security in West Timor
18 September -- The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor today received reassurances from a senior Indonesian official that a concrete plan was being drawn up to disarm militias and improve the security situation in West Timor, where three aid workers from the UN refugee agency were brutally murdered on 6 September.
Sergio Vieira de Mello, the head of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, held a meeting today in Jakarta that was later described by UNTAET as "more positive" than the talks held last week between UN and Indonesian officials. After the meeting, Mr. Yudhoyono travelled to New York to discuss the issue with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security Council.
While in the Indonesian capital, Mr. Vieira de Mello exchanged views yesterday with United States Defence Secretary William Cohen on the security situation in West Timor. Secretary Cohen was in Jakarta to discuss that question with Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and other Government members.
Before leaving for Dili today, the UNTAET chief met with Indonesian Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman to follow-up on the Indonesian investigation into serious crimes committed in East Timor last year, following the country's vote for independence.
