Precedence: bulk CNRT - Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmão STATEMENT BY XANANA GUSMÃO ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRESIDENT B.J. HABIBIE, 12 SEPTEMBER 1999 Good Evening! Just like you, Ladies and Gentlemen and, the whole world, I also heard President Habibie's announcement a short while ago. On behalf of the People of East Timor, I wish to commend President Habibie for the decision taken today. This was a much needed decision at a time when reality proved the urgent need for Peace and Stability in East Timor. President Habibie and the Cabinet have faced up this reallity. Now it is up to the UN Security Council and the international community to act speedily. There is no time to loose. I urge all those working for East Timor in the framework of setting-up a multinational force to move fast. Firstly, in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the uprooted and displaced populations. We are facing a situation whereby the whole population of East Timor has been uprooted and is displaced and devoid of any means of survival. Secondly, in urgently restoring stability in violent stricken East Timor. I also call on the UN Security Council, the international community and, in particular, the countries involved in the multinational force, to co-operate with the Indonesian Government throughout this process. I fully commit myself and FALINTIL to undertake every effort to stabilise the territory and to support all and every action, initiative and endeavour to help those who have been uprooted and displaced to return home. I wish to express my profound and heartfelt gratitude to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security Council for helping the Indonesian Government to take this courageous decision. To the international community, all those, Governments and individuals, who are responding to my appeal to "Save the People of East Timor", I express the deepest gratitude of my people. To my beloved People, my sisters and brothers inside our Motherland, I admire your resilience, your determination, and endless courage. I urge you to hold on to your unlimited faith in the future of our new-born Nation. Thank you. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão President of the CNRT ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
