Gusmao meets Mega, hands over invitation<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
East Timor's president-elect Xanana Gusmao visited President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday to convey his personal request
\nto her to attend East Timor's declaration of independence on May
\n19 through May 20 in Dili.<\/p>\n
He was received by Megawati at her official residence in
\nCentral Jakarta, where the two leaders met for about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
\"I'm here to invite President Megawati to Dili for the
\nindependence celebrations,\" Gusmao said after meeting Megawati,
\nadding that he would also invite several ministers from the
\nGotong Royong cabinet.<\/p>\n
Megawati, however, did not tell the former guerrilla leader
\nwhether she would attend the ceremony or not, but Gusmao
\nexpressed optimism about his invitation.<\/p>\n
\"I was well received by the President, but at the moment I
\ncannot confirm her attendance ... yet; I trust the President will
\nattend,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati has expressed several times her intention to join a
\nhost of world leaders at the historic event, despite mounting
\nopposition.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda told reporters at
\nthe State Palace on Thursday that the President would soon
\nannounce her final decision. Hassan did not elaborate further.<\/p>\n
Hassan stressed that East Timor should no longer be perceived
\nas a separatist issue as its partition from Indonesia had been
\nacknowledged by the People's Consultative Assembly through its
\nDecree No. 5\/1999.<\/p>\n
\"The decree reflects the stance of the whole nation and not
\njust the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung insisted that Megawati drop plans
\nto visit Dili because the secession of East Timor from the
\nUnitary Republic of Indonesia had left many problems.<\/p>\n
The House, he said, would stick to its stance of not
\nrecommending the Dili trip. Gusmao also invited Akbar to Dili,
\nbut the latter said he would respond after consulting House
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
Despite his opposition, Akbar welcomed Gusmao's visit here,
\nsaying that his arrival could become the foundation of future
\nrelations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Akbar, accompanied by deputy speakers Soetardjo
\nSoerjogoeritno, Tosari Widjaja and A.M. Fatwa, held a closed-door
\nmeeting with Gusmao that lasted 45 minutes.<\/p>\n
Separately, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien
\nRais maintained his opposition and suggested that the government
\nrequest foreign minister Hassan attend the celebration.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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