The following is the text of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's address announcing the referendum result to the UN
Security Council in New York.
"On 5 May, 1999, Portugal, Indonesia and the United Nations concluded an historic set of agreements intended to resolve
the long-standing issue of East Timor.
"These 5 May agreements requested me to determine, through a popular consultation based upon a universal, direct, and
secret ballot, whether the East Timorese people would accept or reject a proposed special autonomy for East Timor within
the unitary Republic of Indonesia.
"To enable me to fulfil this request, the United Nations Security Council established on 11 June, 1999, the United
Nations Mission in East Timor (Unamet), which proceeded to organise and conduct the popular consultation.
"It registered 451,792 voters in East Timor and around the world, in a registration process which the Electoral
Commission, a body composed of three independent commissioners, deemed to be a sound basis for the conduct of the
consultation.
"Thus, on 30 August, 1999, in a show of courage and determination, the people of East Timor turned out in massive
numbers to vote in the popular consultation, expressing their will as to the future of the territory.
"The votes cast have now been counted, and the Electoral Commission has assessed all outstanding complaints and
certified the results of the popular consultation process.
"Therefore, in fulfilment of the task entrusted to me by the 5 May Agreements, I hereby announce that the result of the
vote is 94,388, or 21.5%, in favour, and 344,580, or 78.5%, against the proposed special autonomy.
"The people of East Timor have thus rejected the proposed special autonomy and expressed their wish to begin a process
of transition toward independence.
'Era of stability'
"After 24 years of conflict, East Timor now stands on the threshold of what we all hope will be a process of orderly and
peaceful transition toward independence.
"The coming days, however, will require patience and calm from the people of East Timor. I hardly need stress how
important it is for its leaders to exercise wisdom and reason.
"Now is the time for all concerned to seize the opportunity to lay a firm and lasting foundation for co-operation and
peace, and to usher in an era of stability and prosperity for all future generations of East Timorese.
"Those who voted to accept the proposed special autonomy must not consider this outcome a loss. Nor indeed should the
majority consider it a victory; for there are no winners and no losers today.
"Rather, this moment heralds the opportunity for all East Timorese to begin to forge together a common future in what is
to become an independent East Timor.
'Reconciliation'
"Today, I ask all parties to bring to an end the violence which for 24 years has caused untold suffering to East Timor.
I ask them to begin in earnest a process of dialogue and reconciliation through the East Timor Consultative Commission.
"I call upon the government of Indonesia, which made possible the consultation process through a statesmanlike
initiative of the President of the Republic, to ensure its successful culmination by carrying out its responsibility to
maintain law and order in the territory.
"I should like to thank both Indonesia and Portugal for their commitment and perseverance in this process.
"I am confident that the governments will fulfil their remaining obligations under the 5 May Agreements. Let me assure
both governments that the United Nations will continue to work with them to ensure the implementation of the results of
the consultation through a peaceful and orderly process.
"Let me also assure the people of East Timor that the United Nations will not fail them in guiding East Timor in its
transition toward independence."
ENDS