HELPING free the people of East Timor was Alexander Downer's greatest achievement in his political life, the former foreign minister sid today.
The Liberal Party stalwart today confirmed he would retired from parliament on July 14.
Mr Downer was Australia's longest-serving foreign minister and has held the South Australian seat of Mayo for almost 24 years.
But he said his passion for politics had waned and ruled out a future return to either state or federal parliaments.
The 56-year-old will join former Labor senator Nick Bolkus and Ian Smith, the husband of former Australian Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja, in a business consultancy.
Mr Downer said he had no regrets from his time in politics.
"I leave with a sense that it has been a real honour to serve the people of Mayo in South Australia and also the people of Australia over so many years," he said.
He said the independence of East Timor was his personal highlight.
"I spent nearly 12 years as the foreign minister of Australia and during that period I helped to free the people of East Timor and I would single that out as my greatest achievement. But there were a lot of things that I did that I'm proud of," he said.
Mr Downer said he would also be a visiting professor at the University of Adelaide's School of History and Politics and would also continue to be active in public debates through speaking engagements.
And he would accept the position of special envoy to Cyprus if the UN made a formal offer.
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said Mr Downer was instrumental in ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Alexander was instrumental in formulating a number of key foreign policy responses during the Howard government and particularly in ensuring peace and stability in our region," Mr Minchin said.
"Alexander should be incredibly proud of his role in the Australian-led international operation to stabilise East Timor and support its democracy."
The Liberal Party stalwart today confirmed he would retired from parliament on July 14.
Mr Downer was Australia's longest-serving foreign minister and has held the South Australian seat of Mayo for almost 24 years.
But he said his passion for politics had waned and ruled out a future return to either state or federal parliaments.
The 56-year-old will join former Labor senator Nick Bolkus and Ian Smith, the husband of former Australian Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja, in a business consultancy.
Mr Downer said he had no regrets from his time in politics.
"I leave with a sense that it has been a real honour to serve the people of Mayo in South Australia and also the people of Australia over so many years," he said.
He said the independence of East Timor was his personal highlight.
"I spent nearly 12 years as the foreign minister of Australia and during that period I helped to free the people of East Timor and I would single that out as my greatest achievement. But there were a lot of things that I did that I'm proud of," he said.
Mr Downer said he would also be a visiting professor at the University of Adelaide's School of History and Politics and would also continue to be active in public debates through speaking engagements.
And he would accept the position of special envoy to Cyprus if the UN made a formal offer.
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said Mr Downer was instrumental in ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Alexander was instrumental in formulating a number of key foreign policy responses during the Howard government and particularly in ensuring peace and stability in our region," Mr Minchin said.
"Alexander should be incredibly proud of his role in the Australian-led international operation to stabilise East Timor and support its democracy."
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Obrigado Sr Downer e boa sorte ba oin nafatin.
For immediate release: 3 pm AEST, Saturday 10/10/98
UDT condemns major Indonesian attack on East Timorese stronghold as UN talks proceed
PERTH (Australia): The Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) has condemned a major Indonesian attack on an East Timorese Falintil stronghold - an apparent attempt to either wipe out or seriously weaken armed Timorese resistance to Indonesia's illegal occupation
UDT's Secretary-General, Mr Domingos De Oliviera, said it was typical of Indonesia that they would launch a major attack on East Timorese as they were going to the negotiating table at the United Nations for talks on East Timor's fate. He said it demonstrated once again that President Habibie was either a complete hypocrite or simply a puppet in the hands of a murderous military. "Indonesia talks about 'special status' for East Timor within Indonesia. We East Timorese reject that totally. East Timorese have had 23 years to learn that 'special status' in Indonesia means being totally exploited by a corrupt and vicious regime, under which rape, torture and murder are daily realities," Mr De Oliviera said. "We want self-determination and independence."
Mr De Oliviera said sources in Dili reported five Indonesian battalions, 612, 646, and 741 regular soldiers and two elite battalions of commandos and paratroops, had surrounded the Falintil stronghold and had been advancing over the past two to three days. The Falintil Chief Commander, Tau Mata Rua, was in the area under attack. In addition, anther Falintil leader, Mau Hudu, with a party of 40 people, was going into the area to meet Tau Mata Rua a few days ago. Mr De Oliviera said the ordinary people of East Timor support the struggle for independence. This is being shown in Dili itself today with a silent protest which has brought the capital to a halt. East Timorese are refusing to work or go out in protest against the Indonesian appointed Governor, Abilio Ozório Soares. Governor Soares has been circulating calls for East Timorese to turn forget ideas of independence and support the integration of East Timor into Indonesia.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Domingos De Oliviera, Secretary-General, UDT % 08 9384 7943 Issued on behalf of UDT by Geoffrey Heard & Associates Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
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