Lisbon - The Indonesian Finance Minister, Mr Ginand jar Kartasasmita, said yesterday that the fate of the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, annexed by Indonesia in 1976, should be decided by the Timorese themselves.
Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "The choice depends exclusively on the population of East Timor who must decide what they want. If our proposal to grant special status with an autonomous regional government is accepted by all parties as the final solution, the problem is solved. If not, we will invite the Timorese to separate from Indonesia and create their own country."