Bill Clinton: “Yes, I'm pleased because so many people voted, and I'm pleased because the outcome was so unambiguous. I believe it's…”

“Yes, I'm pleased because so many people voted, and I'm pleased because the outcome was so unambiguous. I believe it's 78\1/ 2\ to 21\1/2\; that's about as clear an expression of public opinion as you could ever expect. Now, I'm very concerned about the continuing violence. The people who lost the election should recognize that they lost it fair and square, and we should now find a way to go forward peacefully. I respect the fact that the Government of Indonesia supported the referendum and has said that it will abide by these results. It isn't often that a country is willing to do such a thing. But I think it is also important that the Indonesians do everything they can to keep the peace and to prevent the bloodshed that we now see in East Timor. They have a capacity, I think, that would enable them to do that. We will work with the United Nations; we will do everything we can to support it. But this was a truly historic occurrence and one that may provide some guidance, some indication, some hope for people throughout the world. It would be tragic, indeed, if the referendum, which was so heavily supported by the people--not only the 78 percent who voted for independence but just the huge percentage of the citizens that showed up to vote--it would be tragic if all that came out of it was more and more violence and killing of innocents. So I think it's important that they, the United Nations, and all of us who support them do everything we can to minimize the bloodshed and to facilitate an orderly and honorable transition. And we will support that. Legislative Agenda”