East Timorese end talks in Bali on high note<\/p>\n
KUTA, Bali (JP): A two-day East Timor dialog ended with
\noptimism here on Tuesday as most participants expressed the
\nbelief that the door toward reconciliation was now ajar.<\/p>\n
Statements made by several political figures attending the
\nmeeting, such as Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab, Uni
\nTimor Aswain (UNTAS) chairman Dominggus Soares, and head of the
\nCouncil for Timorese National Resistance (CNRT) Jose Alexandre
\n\"Xanana\" Gusmao were positive.<\/p>\n
\"This meeting heralds the beginning of the reconciliation
\nprocess among the East Timorese. It is this process that
\nIndonesia, both the government and its people, supports and
\nencourages,\" Alwi said on the sidelines of the meeting.<\/p>\n
Alwi urged East Timorese leaders to use the opportunity to
\nboost the process to promote peace, stability and democracy in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Gusmao expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government
\nfor its help in the reconciliation process.<\/p>\n
\"We know that it (reconciliation) may take a long time. But we
\nbelieve that we'll be able to overcome our obstacles and
\ndifferences,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The meeting, attended by some 40 members of UNTAS and 25 from
\nCNRT, was sponsored and organized by Sweden's Uppsala University.<\/p>\n
The University, known for its Faculty of Peace and Conflict
\nResearch, coordinated the structure of the dialog and acted as
\nthe chairman of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"So far, I'm very happy with the improvements we made in this
\nmeeting,\" said meeting chairman Kjell-Ake Nordquist.<\/p>\n
Nordquist added that clarification was the most important
\naspect of the meeting, beside socialization.<\/p>\n
\"This conference has its formal and informal sides. Some
\nimportant statements were made in the formal sessions, but the
\nother important part of the process occurred between sessions,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
A joint communique was slated to be released Wednesday
\nmorning.(zen\/hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timorese-end-talks-in-bali-on-high-note-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}