Warm welcome for world's newest nation<\/p>\n
Agencies, Hong Kong, China<\/p>\n
China claimed first place in the race to forge diplomatic ties
\nwith East Timor on Monday as the world's 192nd nation was given a
\nwarm welcome by its regional neighbors.<\/p>\n
In the agreement establishing relations, East Timor promised
\nnot to have any official contacts with Taiwan, the island China
\nclaims as part of its territory, Xinhua said.<\/p>\n
East Timor also accepted China's view that \"Taiwan is an
\ninalienable part of Chinese territory,\" Xinhua said in a report
\nfrom Dili, the East Timorese capital.<\/p>\n
China, meanwhile, said it \"respects the independence,
\nsovereignty and territorial integrity\" of East Timor. The two
\nsides also pledged to expand trade and economic relations.<\/p>\n
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said there was \"great
\npotential\" for China and East Timor to work together in oil and
\ngas exploration, agriculture, fisheries and telecommunications,
\nXinhua said.<\/p>\n
Pope John Paul on Monday urged East Timor to create a free and
\npeaceful society as the Vatican announced it had established
\ndiplomatic relations with the fledgling democracy.<\/p>\n
The Pope said he sent his warmest wishes to President Xanana
\nGusmao, adding the country's future lay in the hands of those who
\nwould set up and protect society.<\/p>\n
\"At such an important moment in your history, as you prepare
\nto become one of the earth's free nations, I am spiritually close
\nto you, sharing in your joy and spurring you on to create a just,
\nfree, stable and peaceful society,\" he said in a message to the
\ncountry's 740,000 citizens.<\/p>\n
Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Singapore were all quick
\nto congratulate East Timor on formally throwing off the shackles
\nof 450 years of colonial rule in a ceremony attended by world
\nleaders late on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Australia named its first ambassador to East Timor and even
\nthe press in Indonesia -- whose 24-year occupation sparked a
\nguerrilla war resulting in the deaths of at least 100,000 East
\nTimorese -- had kind words for its former territory.<\/p>\n
But as thousands of jubilant East Timorese thronged the
\nstreets of Dili, a key regional body looked set to inject a
\nsobering note into the celebrations.<\/p>\n
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has reacted
\ncoolly to East Timor's application to join and is expected to
\nmove cautiously before enrolling its 11th member.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has been criticized for moving too quickly to embrace
\nMyanmar, which is accused of human rights abuses, and many within
\nthe organization claim it hamstrung by its consensus ethos.<\/p>\n
East Timor's application will be discussed at the July ASEAN
\nRegional Forum in Brunei, where it has been invited as a \"guest\",
\nbut Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar warned there would be
\nno rushed decision.<\/p>\n
An application to join the United Nations, ratified in East
\nTimor's very first parliament session on Monday, received a
\nslightly more positive reaction from visiting UN Secretary
\nGeneral Kofi Annan.<\/p>\n
\"All nations are equals... the doors of the United Nations are
\nopen to rich or poor nations, small or big nations,\" Annan said
\nafter receiving the application.<\/p>\n
The festival atmosphere also looked set to be tempered by a
\nlooming spat with Australia over oil field profits. A treaty was
\nsigned on Monday on Timor Sea oil and gas revenues, but Prime
\nMinister Mari Alkatiri said Dili would try to claim a larger
\nshare of the bounty.<\/p>\n
Canberra confirmed James Batley would be its first ambassador
\nto the new country and said it would continue to give military
\nand economic support but showed no sign of backing down on the
\noil dispute.<\/p>\n
Perhaps surprisingly, Indonesian media led the tributes on
\nMonday and expressed hope for close relations.<\/p>\n
The leading Kompas daily said a new page should be turned in
\nrelations between Jakarta and its former province, which broke
\naway in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"For a new page in relations to be smooth and clean, we must
\nremind everyone that there is a requirement, that is, a mutual
\nunderstanding. Not only from Indonesia but also from East Timor,\"
\nKompas said.<\/p>\n
Singapore said East Timor had faced \"overwhelming odds\" in its
\nstruggle for nationhood.<\/p>\n
\"The East Timorese people have exhibited a remarkable degree
\nof resilience in their quest for nationhood,\" Singapore President
\nS.R. Nathan said.<\/p>\n
Japan also promised its support for the new country and set up
\ndiplomatic ties on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Our country will continue working together with the
\ninternational community to provide as much assistance as possible
\nfor East Timor's nation-building,\" Foreign Minister Yoriko
\nKawaguchi said in a statement.<\/p>",
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