    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [September 15, 1999]
    [Page 1544]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on United Nations Security Council Action on East Timor
    September 15, 1999

        Late last night the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved
    Resolution 1264, which authorizes a multinational force to restore
    stability in East Timor, at the invitation of the Indonesian Government.
    Now we must move with purpose and dispatch to protect the innocent
    people whose lives are still threatened by those seeking to overturn the
    results of a fair vote. I welcome the passage of Resolution 1264 and
    look forward to working with the Government of Australia and others in
    the international community to put together an effective force. I have
    just been briefed by Admiral Blair of
    CINCPAC on our close cooperation with Australia, and I hope the force
    can deploy in a matter of days. The United States is prepared to
    contribute to this operation, and we are discussing with our Australian
    allies and the Congress an appropriate U.S. role.