Jakarta and Dili 'should develop trade ties'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and East Timor should develop trade
\nrelations for their mutual benefit, head of the United Nations
\nTransitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after meeting President Abdurrahman
\nWahid, Sergio de Mello said that the most important item on his
\neconomic agenda was the trade relations between East Timor and
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"I think both sides have interests in developing trade
\nrelations," de Mello said.<\/p>\n
"There is a lot of potential ... we have great demands while
\nIndonesia and other countries of the region have a lot to offer
\nand we want Indonesia to be given a fair chance," he added.<\/p>\n
De Mello said, however, that to support healthy trade
\nrelations the two first needed to agree on many things, including
\ntechnicalities, customs and immigration.<\/p>\n
He said that "a win-win solution" should be sought to bridge
\nthe existing differences and problems between the two countries.<\/p>\n
"This is why we proposed last month the establishment of a
\njoint border commission," he said.<\/p>\n
De Mello added that during his meeting with the president,
\nthey had also discussed the prospect of having East Timorese
\nstudents back in Indonesian universities.<\/p>\n
"I know that there are some reservations here and there, but
\nthis is the best investment that we can jointly make on the
\nfuture relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
"Their only chance to continue their higher education is
\nhere," he said, adding that Jakarta had offered 162 scholarships
\nfor East Timorese students.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, de Mello met with Foreign Affairs Minister
\nAlwi Shihab.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, de Mello met with Attorney General Marzuki
\nDarusman and told reporters after the meeting that a team from
\nthe Attorney General's Office would be dispatched to East Timor
\nwithin three weeks to investigate last year's violence in the
\nformer Indonesian province. (01\/byg\/prb\/dja)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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