Fed: Downer to visit East Timor

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
Fed: Downer to visit East Timor

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER will visit East Timor next week to help the new nation
celebrate the anniversary of its independence vote.

And Mr DOWNER says he'll use the visit to express concern about militia activity along
the West Timor border, and the situation of East Timorese refugees in camps within West
Timor.

It will be Mr DOWNER'S first visit to East Timor since the historic vote and subsequent
militia violence, which prompted Australia to spearhead a peacekeeping mission in the
former Indonesian province.

Mr DOWNER says he'll hold talks with the United Nations special representative on East
Timor, SERGIO DE MELLO, and East Timorese leaders including XANANA GUSMAO.

He'll also visit Australian peacekeepers.

AAP RTV jg/daw/rt/jn

KEYWORD: TIMOR DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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