Phil Goff – The Foreign Minister Phil Goff says it is a matter of shame that New Zealand, Australia and the United States did not strongly oppose the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in the 1970's.

He has released classified papers on the invasion ahead of visits this month by the Timorese President Xanana Gusmao and foreign minister Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.

Mr Goff says the papers show too little attention was paid to human rights abuses and New Zealand, Australia and the United States share some responsibility for the suffering of the East Timorese.

He says they should have been outspoken in their condemnation of Indonesia's planned invasion, but instead either implicitly or explicitly gave the green light for it to go ahead.

Phil Goff says while the past cannot be forgotten, it should be recognised that New Zealand and Australia have made a huge contribution to East Timor since the 1999 independence referendum.