    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 37 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
    [Pages 1733-1734]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on the Situation in East Timor and an Exchange With Reporters in
    Auckland

    September 13, 1999

        The President. Let me begin by saying that I welcome the statement
    of President Habibie last night inviting the United Nations to send a
    security force into East Timor. I think that this is a real tribute to
    the determination of the friends of the people there--the Australians,
    the New Zealanders here, all the people here at APEC who express
    solidarity.
        I think there are a couple of points I'd like to make about it.
    Number one, it's important to get the details worked out and get this
    force in in a hurry, in a way that it can be effective. Number two, if
    that happens, then we can resume our work with the people of Indonesia,
    the world's fourth largest country, to help their transition to
    democracy and the restoration of prosperity there.
        In terms of what our role would be in East Timor, we have had
    extensive discussions with the Australians through our defense channels,
    and we've been asked to provide a limited but important function related
    to airlift, transportation, communications, intelligence, and perhaps
    some engineering work. Exactly what the details would be have yet to be
    worked out and require more extensive consultations with Congress.
        I made a number of calls before I left the country. Secretary Cohen
    and Mr. Podesta are back there now working on this issue. But I hope we
    can wrap it up. The most important thing is for President Habibie to
    make good on his statement, get the details worked out, get the force in
    in a hurry.
        Q. Mr. President, will there be any U.S. ground troops in combat
    roles in East Timor?
        The President. We've not discussed that; we've not been asked for
    that. I talked to Prime Minister Howard yesterday, and I stopped in
    Hawaii, as all of you know, and

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    met with our commander in chief there, Admiral Blair, and, obviously,
    I've talked to Secretary Cohen and General Shelton. What we have been
    asked to do so far relates to airlift; what countries are going to
    contribute to troops--someone needs to take them to the theater--relates
    to transportation, communications, intelligence, and the possibility of
    some engineering work. All of that would require some presence on the
    ground in East Timor, but no one has asked us for any combat troops.
        Q. Mr. President, these are troops that, by and large, have never
    worked together before. It's not like the NATO kind of force. Do you see
    for the United States any kind of coordinating role to keep the
    peacekeepers together, to have a command structure for them?
        The President. We might be asked to provide some help on command and
    control. But keep in mind, a number of these troops have worked
    together. There is a group here in this part of the Asia-Pacific region
    that train together, that work together, that do exercises together. So
    there is some experience here. But there will be some work to be done,
    depending on how many countries come on the command and control, and if
    we're asked to provide some technical assistance there, of course, we'd
    be willing to help.
        Q. Mr. President, how much control will the Indonesians have about
    the makeup of the force? They've already said that they're uncomfortable
    with the Australians being the leaders.
        The President. Well, that has to be worked out today. But my view is
    that we should work with the Indonesians in a cooperative fashion.
    Perhaps they should have some parallel presence even, but they should
    not be able to say who is in or not in the force and what the structure
    of the force will be. Otherwise it will raise all kinds of questions
    about whether there will be integrity in the force and it will also
    delay the implementation.
        The truth is the Australians are willing to carry the lion's share
    of the role. They're willing to put in a large number of people. They
    have enormous military capacity. Our people have great confidence in
    working with them. And so I don't think that we should be in a position
    of having this thing delayed for days and days and days over that, and I
    hope that it won't be when the talks occur today with the Indonesians
    leadership.
        Q. Mr. President, as a practical matter, what's the quickest you
    think a deployment could occur--24 hours, 48 hours--how quick?
        The President. I think we could begin to move quickly, but I think
    it depends upon the meeting today with the Indonesians. Let's wait and
    see what happens today, and then you ask me that question either late
    today or tomorrow, I can give you a more intelligent answer.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:45 a.m. at the Stamford Plaza Hotel. In
    his remarks, he referred to President B.J. Habibie of Indonesia; and
    Prime Minister John Howard of Australia.