E. Timor donors to hold first meeting in Japan
E. Timor donors to hold first meeting in Japan
TOKYO (AFP): International aid donors to East Timor hold their first full-scale meeting this week in Japan along with independence leader Xanana Gusmao.
The two-day meeting will begin on Thursday, drawing more than 100 officials from 30 countries mainly from Asia, North America and Europe as well as representatives of 20 international institutes, officials said.
This meeting follows Indonesia's ratification of an August 30 independence vote by East Timor in October, formally surrendering its claim to the former Portuguese colony which it invaded in 1975.
A two-hour preliminary meeting between East Timor independence leaders and donors was held in Washington November 29.
"During the conference, we will discuss concrete support for East Timor," said an official of World Bank, which is jointly organizing the aid conference with the United Nations and the Japanese government.
Gusmao, widely expected to be the first leader of East Timor once it becomes independent, would head the territory's delegation to the conference, the officials said.
The meeting would also discuss assistance to the UN Transitional Authority for East Timor (UNTAET), which is running the former Portuguese colony until independence from Indonesia.
The World Bank has estimated US$260-300 million will be needed over the next three years for reconstruction, "primarily in the infrastructure, health and education sectors," it said in a statement.
Japan is expected to offer the biggest contribution this time.
"We cannot disclose our aid plan now but we are ready to make an effort to conclude the conference with success," said an official of the foreign ministry.
Japan has vowed to back UNTAET.
Last month, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Akira Takahashi deputy head of the UNTAET. Takahashi, 60, worked for 35 years for Japan International Cooperation Agency, the world's largest development cooperation agency.
Japan has so far announced two million dollars in aid to East Timor, while sending three transport planes and some 100 air force staff to help airlift UN aid supplies to refugees in West Timor.