How UN chief Antonio Guterres tests the limits of quiet diplomacy
Summary
Antonio Guterres played an important role in pushing for international help during the 1999 crisis in East Timor after a violent response to its vote for independence from Indonesia. He urged the United States to pressure Indonesia to accept a UN mission, which eventually helped East Timor gain independence in 2002. Guterres’s experience in this crisis shaped his diplomatic approach as he later became UN secretary-general.Key Facts
- In 1999, East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia, sparking violence by pro-Indonesian militias.
- The violence destroyed infrastructure, displaced about 500,000 people, and killed thousands.
- Portugal, with historic ties to East Timor, strongly supported the independence cause and held public demonstrations.
- Antonio Guterres, then Portugal’s Prime Minister, contacted President Bill Clinton twice to ask for U.S. support in sending a UN mission to East Timor.
- The U.S. initially hesitated but later pressured Indonesia to allow international help.
- East Timor became independent in 2002 with significant UN involvement.
- Guterres was granted Timorese citizenship in 2024 for his efforts during the crisis.
- This crisis was an early example of Guterres’s focus on quiet diplomacy and multilateral cooperation, themes in his later work as UN secretary-general.
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