by Selwyn Manning

High powered talks will begin in Auckland tomorrow night to discuss crisis measures to institute peace in East Timor.

British Foreign Minister Robin Cooke is expected to arrive tomorrow as is USA Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Ms Albright will be leaving Hanoi over night and is expected to arrive in Auckland tomorrow.

The meeting of APEC foreign ministers is scheduled for Wednesday night, will be chaired by the Canadian foreign minister, and is expected to be attended by the Indonesian foreign minister or a nominee of the Indonesian Government.

United Nations representatives are also expected to attend.

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today the Government’s intention to aid a diplomatic solution and to pressure the Indonesian Government to end the slaughter now taking place in East Timor.

But Mrs Shipley has also ordered the New Zealand Armed Forces to stand at a 14 day alert should a United Nations peacekeeping force be required to establish order in East Timor.

There are conditions attached to a New Zealand force becoming active in East Timor. They are that: Indonesia accepts such a force, a UN mandate is issued, other larger nations also contribute forces alongside New Zealand and Australia.

The New Zealand contingent would also include two C-130 Hercules Air Force planes which would likely be deployed to Darwin.

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