Text: State Department Sept. 29 Statement on West Timor
(U.S. looks to Indonesia to quickly end militia threat)

Following is the text:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
September 29, 2000
#2000/1058

STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

INDONESIA - DISARMING OF MILITIAS IN WEST TIMOR

The Government of Indonesia has announced that it is taking steps to implement the plan it gave to the United Nations to confiscate weapons belonging to militias in West Timor. We agree it is crucial that disarmament succeed in order to allow refugees in West Timor the opportunity to decide in peace where they wish to settle, and to bring peace to the citizens of West Timor.

The success of the operation can only be judged by the extent it leads to a cessation of violence. The United States and the international community look to Indonesia to move quickly and effectively to end the threat posed by the armed militia groups. (end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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