TIMOR LESTE: DFAT OFFICIAL DISCUSSES MILITARY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000125 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV ASEC MARR AS TT SUBJECT: TIMOR LESTE: DFAT OFFICIAL DISCUSSES MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SUPPORT FROM AUSTRALIA REF: DILI 45 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR JAMES COLE. REASON: 1 .4 (D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Director of the ASEAN Regional Issues and East Timor section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Linda Worthaisong told PolOff on February 13 that along with his planned trip to East Timor on February 15, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been in constant contact with Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. According to Worthaisong, Australia's added security personnel are in Timor Leste at the behest of the East Timor government and any drawdown would be initiated by the two governments agreeing that the time was appropriate. Worthaisong said that it would be difficult to guage improvement since the assassination attempt, but that she believes things are stable and that barring another incident the calm mood that has pervaded the country would likely continue. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Lynda Worthaisong, Director of the ASEAN Regional Issues and East Timor section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),told PolOff on February 13 that along with his planned trip to East Timor on February 15, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been in constant contact with Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. As well, Foreign Minister Steven Smith has met with his counterpart Timor Leste Foreign Minister Zacarias Da Costa. (Note. Da Costa is expected in Canberra the week beginning February 18 for consultations. End Note). Worthaisong said that an important aspect of Australian support in the crisis is also the medical support being given to President Jose Ramos-Horta at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin, Australia. She told PolOff that Horta's continued health is playing an important role in maintaining calm in the country. ¶3. (C/NF) According to Worthaisong, Australia's added security personnel are in Timor Leste at the behest of the East Timor government and any drawdown would be initiated by the two governments agreeing that the time was appropriate. Worthaisong cautioned that all Australian troops in the country operate under the same set of standards. She expected the post-February 11 troops to be a temporary part of the Australian force in Timor Leste. She noted, however, that members of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado's "gang" are still at large and Australian troops may play an apprehension role. MCCALLUM