by President Habibie

Full text of speech by President Habibie on East Timor

Following is a full text of the speech in English September 12 by President B.J. Habibie accepting international

peacekeeping troops for East Timor: “As you know, I had sent (armed forces com mander) General Wiranto to East Timor to accompany the repre sentatives of the UN

Security Council, pri

marily to get a first hand report about the real situation in East Timor after the declara tion of martial law.

“The information that I received from him and others has given me sufficient reason to dis cuss the matter immedi ately with members of

my cabinet. “A couple of minutes ago I called the UN Secretary-General to inform him about our readiness to accept international peacekeeping forces through the UN from friendly

nations to restore peace and security in East Timor, to protect the people and to implement the result of the direct ballot of 30th August.

“Too many people have lost their lives since the beginning of the unrest, lost their homes and security. We cannot wait any longer. We have to stop the suf

fering and mourning immediately.

“Since I took over, I have beeen deter mined to strengthen democcracy in Indonesia, the rule of law, to : stabilise our economy and to guaranteee human rights. My position on East Tiiimor was and continues to be determined 1 by these values and goals. I know tthat our friends and partners all over thhe world, and especially the vast majoritity of the Indonesian people, support thhis posi tion. The Indonesian defence ftforces try to stabilise the situation in Eaast Timor since the declaration of martiaal law on the seventh of September. At tthe same time, they had to recognise tlthere are

limits to whaat more they could achiiieve.

“They have dcone their utmost in a veery com plex and comnplicated situation, undler very

difficult psychological

constraints, without neglecting theiir respon sibilities for pteace and security in otfher parts of the Repuiblic of Indonesia.

“I have asked Foreign Minister Ali Alatas to travel to New York immediately to explain to the UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan and to the UN Security

council our position and to prepare the details of its implementation.

“Thank you for your attention.” (Habibie made the same speech first in Indonesian.) Reuters/CNN ■