Xanana's receives red-carpet welcome<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
East Timor President Xanana Gusmao made his historic first
\nofficial visit to Jakarta on Tuesday, complete with full state
\nwelcome, red carpet and 21-gun salute.<\/p>\n
In an amazing twist of fate, Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nofficers, who had hunted him down as a separatist guerrilla
\nleader in the past, paid salute to Xanana as leader of the newly
\nborn neighboring country.<\/p>\n
Standing side by side with Indonesian President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri at the tribute, Gusmao looked content as the East
\nTimor national anthem Patria patria was played by TNI's corps of
\nmusicians, along with the raising of the East Timor national
\nflag.<\/p>\n
Gusmao then inspected the guard of honor and bowed deeply to
\nhonor the two countries' national flags before having talks with
\nMegawati.<\/p>\n
The East Timor President was once jailed for seven years in
\nCipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta for leading a separatist
\nmovement in the former Indonesian province of East Timor.<\/p>\n
However, his long battle for East Timor's liberty ended when
\nthe results of the UN-sponsored referendum in August 1999
\nrevealed that most East Timorese had voted for independence after
\n23 years of Indonesian rule.<\/p>\n
Gusmao, since being elected, has made friendly gestures and
\nshown deep respect for Indonesia, with Jakarta scheduled for his
\nfirst state visit as President.<\/p>\n
In the joint media conference, Gusmao, speaking in Bahasa
\nIndonesia repeatedly gave thanks for the grand welcome and
\nunderlined that the two countries would settle residual problems,
\nfollowing separation, in friendly ways.<\/p>\n
\"We talked on many issues of cooperation between our two
\ncountries, especially on how to settle residual problems. I hope
\nthe relationship between Indonesia and East Timor will bring
\nfriendship, peace and a better future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who started the media conference with a light story
\non East Timor's name, said they had a \"warm and fruitful
\ndiscussion\" to improve the relationship between both countries.<\/p>\n
\"We talked about a comprehensive solution to problems between
\nour states, such as on assets and on both sea and land borders.
\nWe also offered cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and
\ntransportation,\" Megawati said.<\/p>\n
The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a joint
\ncommunique, which increased the diplomatic status of both
\ncountries to ambassador level, and of a memorandum of
\nunderstanding for the establishment of a joint forum to discuss
\nbilateral issues.<\/p>\n
The signing was done by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan
\nWirayuda and his East Timor counterpart, Ramos Horta.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Gusmao held meetings with House of
\nRepresentatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan, before attending a state
\nbanquet at the State Palace.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/xananas-receives-red-carpet-welcome-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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