Fed: Troops will stay in East Timor as long as necessary

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2003
Fed: Troops will stay in East Timor as long as necessary

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australian forces will remain in East Timor as long
as it's necessary.

Mr HOWARD says Australia doesn't intend to leave until it's confident it's leaving
behind a stable, united country.

His comments follow a report in today's Australian newspaper that East Timor foreign
minister JOSE RAMOS HORTA has called for a two-year extension of the United Nations mandate,
which expires in May 2004.

However, East Timor is yet to formally request an extension from Canberra.

While Mr HOWARD did not put a time-frame on the troops' stay in East Timor, he says
part of Australia's commitment to the nation is to create a stable environment for its
people.

AAP RTV smb/nf/jas/rp

KEYWORD: TIMOR HOWARD (SYDNEY) WITH AUDIO

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.