The General Assembly of European Development NGOs, meeting in Brussels on 11 and 12 April 1997,
1. Noting the awarding of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize to Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and Mr Jos_ Ramos Horta, two key Timorese figures who have fought tirelessly for the right of the East Timorese people to self- determination;
2. Recalling the support affirmed many times by the European Union and the Governments of Member States for the negotiating process between Portugal and Indonesia under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
3. Recalling the commitments made by the Government of Indonesia on the freeing of political prisoners, freedom of access to East Timor for humanitarian and human rights organizations and the establishment in Jakarta of a representative of the United Nations Human Rights Centre with free access to East Timor, commitments made within the framework of the Human Rights Commission and in the wake of a visit from the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
4. Recalling various resolutions by the European Parliament recommending that Governments of the European Union should stop the sale of arms to Indonesia;
5. Considering that the Council of Ministers of the Union, meeting on 25 and 26 November 1996, requested the Commission to draw up proposals to give effect to the Common Position on East Timor previously adopted by the Council;
* - Welcomes the awarding of the Nobel Prize, which is a reminder to international public opinion and Governments of the plight of the people of East Timor; but expresses its concern at the news that the Indonesian forces of occupation have increased their repression since the awarding of this prize last December;
* - Requests the European Commission to support the effective participation of the Timorese in the negotiating process, in particular in the person of their leader, Mr Xanan Gusm¶o, who must be released in order to take part in this process;
* - Urges the Commission to demand that the Government of Indonesia should respect the commitments it has already made and to request the UN Secretary- General to promote the establishment of a permanent United Nations presence in East Timor, in order to ensure the safety of the Timorese and to make preparations for the holding of a referendum on the political status of the territory, in accordance with the principles of the Charter and numerous United Nations resolutions;
* - Calls upon the Governments of Member States to give a positive response to the resolutions of the European Parliament and to stop arms sales to Indonesia as long as this country does not allow the people of East Timor to exercise their right to self-determination;
* - Supports the principle of humanitarian and development aid for East Timor from the European Union, channelled directly through Timorese organizations which help to reduce the suffering of the population under an illegal occupation, and contribute towards strengthening this population's own capacities.