Annan to hand over power to E. Timor<\/p>\n
Reuters, United Nations<\/p>\n
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will travel to East
\nTimor to hand over power when the new government celebrates its
\nhard-won independence later this month, UN officials said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The United Nations has been administering East Timor since
\nlate 1999, a few months after Timorese voted for independence
\nfrom Indonesia, which invaded the territory in 1975 after
\ncolonial ruler Portugal pulled out.<\/p>\n
Annan's trip to East Timor will cap a week-long trip that will
\nalso take him to Indonesia and to Cyprus, where he hopes to spur
\nprogress in UN-sponsored talks aimed at reaching agreement by
\nJune on a plan to reunite the divided Mediterranean island.<\/p>\n
East Timor is planning a two-day independence celebration
\nbeginning on May 19, marking the final step in its long and
\nbloody road to nationhood.<\/p>\n
Xanana Gusmao, independence hero and former guerrilla leader,
\nwon nearly 83 percent of the vote in April 14 presidential
\nelections.<\/p>\n
More than 80 countries have so far accepted invitations to
\nattend the ceremonies, including the United States, which is
\nsending former President Bill Clinton.<\/p>\n
Annan will hand over power to the parliamentary president,
\nFrancisco Guterres, at midnight on May 19. The next morning, the
\nnew government will be sworn in and the parliament -- elected
\nlast August to draft a constitution -- will hold its first
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Before going to East Timor, Annan will visit Indonesia,
\narriving May 17. There he will meet President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.<\/p>\n
In Cyprus, the first stop on his trip, Annan will host a May
\n16 dinner for Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides and Turkish
\nCypriot leader Rauf Denktash after meeting with them separately
\nearlier in the day.<\/p>\n
Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when Turkish troops
\ninvaded the northern third of the island in response to a coup by
\nGreek Cypriot militants seeking union with Greece.<\/p>\n
Reunification has taken on a new urgency as Cyprus is a front-
\nrunner for European Union membership and the European Commission
\nis due to make enlargement recommendations in October.<\/p>",
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