    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 37 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
    [Page 1752]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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.