Canberra – Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told anti-integration activist Ramos Horta that Australia will not review its support to the East Timor integration to Indonesia.

The remark was made by Downer in his meeting with Horta in Adelaide, Thursday, in the fulfilment of the Nobel peace winner's request for talks on East Timor. Downer said Australia only recognised tripartite's dialogue in their effort to solve problem in the Indonesian province.

The tripartite dialogue comprises only Indonesia, Portugal, and the UN Secretary General.

Horta called on Australia to review its policy on East Timor and supported his claim as a representative of East Timor.

Ramos Horta, co-receiver of the last year's Nobel Peace Prize sought Australia's support on the withdrawal of the Indonesian Armed Forces from East Timor. His co-receiver of the prize is Dili's Bishop Felippe Ximener Belo.

East Timor integrated with Indonesia in 1976 after being colonised by Portugal for nearly 400 years. Downer did want to meet with Horta in Canberra, but prefered to receive the Fretilin leader in Adelaide. Some local observers saw that a change of the place was a hint from Australian government belittled the essence of the meeting. The Australian press also played down Horta's eleven day visit in in the state. The press only wanted to cover his meeting with Minister Downer.

Horta himself understood that his effort to persuade Australiato review its policy on East Timor is not easy.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Australian Institute ofInternational Affairs, Horta said his meeting with Minister Downerwill not able to change Austalia's position on East Timor.