Geneva – The 1996 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureates, East Timorese Bishop D. Ximenes Belo and activist Jose Ramos Horta, have been invited for a joint news conference during the annual meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) scheduled for March in Geneva.

Ramos Horta has already confirmed his presence in the initiative by the non-governmental organization "Geneve-Libertes" while D. Ximenes Belo said that his trip to Switzerland would depend on a visa being granted by the Indonesian authorities.

The news conference is scheduled for March 20 as the UNHRC holds its annual meeting in the Swiss city.

Ramos Horta and Belo were jointly awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for their role in seeking a peaceful solution for the East Timor conflict.

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1996 and annexed it one year later but the United Nations still regards Portugal as the territorys administering power. Lusa/Fim