WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. East Timor's accession to the Lomé Convention.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: East Timor, Lomé Convention, accession to an agreement

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/159

2. A guarantee that directly or indirectly, support from Indonesian military groups to the (cid:145)militias(cid:146), or

any other provocateurs capable of destabilising the area, has ceased entirely.

In view of all the violence which the Timorese have suffered, it is utterly essential that the European Union
(cid:129) and the whole human-rights-supporting international community (cid:129) should not forget the facts of what
actually happened, and must be particularly demanding and rigorous in these areas; effective means of
verifying on the spot that the situation is genuinely developing in a positive way are required.

Is the Commission able to give an absolutely clear and firm assurance that such minimum guarantees will
be consistently demanded and effectively verified on the ground, as a precondition for developing a new
policy on Indonesia designed to encourage the consolidation of civil democracy in that country, full self-
determination and progress for East Timor, and peaceful conditions throughout the region?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 79.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern for a speedy solution to the problem of
refugees in West Timor. It should be stressed that responsibility for implementing voluntary repatriation
and for the safety of refugees in camps in West Timor still lies with the Indonesian Government. It is vital
that the refugees be given free and objective information on the current situation in East Timor to allow
them to choose freely whether they wish to return or to be resettled in Indonesia. The Commission is sorry
to say that this condition has not been met.

The Commission has pointed out to the Indonesian authorities that it is willing to assist the bodies
responsible for setting up a voluntary repatriation programme. The Commission has also taken the
initiative, together with the Member States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), of examining the scope for assisting some of the displaced persons to resettle in Indonesia.

(2001/C 72 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: East Timor(cid:146)s accession to the LomØ Convention

(21 June 2000)

Paragraph 15 of the European Parliament(cid:146)s resolution on East Timor of 18 November 1999 (B5-0271/
1999) states that (cid:145)The European Parliament calls on the Commission to begin preparations to East Timor
to join the LomØ Convention(cid:146).

Six months later, what specific steps has the Commission already taken to prepare for East Timor joining
the LomØ Convention? On this issue, how does the Commission view the current stage reached and the
immediate prospects for the future?

(2001/C 72 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1969/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Contributions to East Timor from the European Union and its Member States

The recently published European Parliament report on the visit to Indonesia and East Timor from 16 to
21 April by a Parliamentary Delegation mentions that the contributions promised by the European Union