Dublin - The Northern Ireland agreement has enlivened the debate over East Timor, writes David Shanks. Indonesia has countered a recommendation by Bishop Carlos Ximines Belo, the Nobel Peace Prize laureat, that the former Portuguese colony should follow the Northern Ireland example and negotiate a peace settlement.
The bishop said the illegally occupied former Portuguese colony needed an "independent international authority" to bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table.
But yet again rejecting autonomy for East Timor Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, said the territory was "a different case". Meanwhile Mr Jose Ramos Horta, spokesman for the East Timorese resistance and co Nobel winner, said Friday's settlement showed "it is possible to resolve ancient and complex conflicts by negotiations."