East Timor to open embassies

East Timor to open embassies

Agence France-Presse, Jakarta

Tiny East Timor will open embassies in six countries this year following independence on May 20, its deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday.

They will be set up in Jakarta, Canberra, Lisbon, Kuala Lumpur, Washington and Brussels, Fernando de Araujo Lasama said.

Araujo Lasama, quoted by the state Antara news agency, said the Jakarta embassy was the top priority as the former Indonesian province has so many common interests with Indonesia.

He cited border issues, refugees, education, the economy and other matters.

East Timor stood to gain much from forging closer ties with Indonesia, Araujo Lasama said. Imports from Indonesia would be much cheaper than from other countries.

East Timor, he said, also plans to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when it can afford it.

"In the early stages, East Timor will only obtain a status (in ASEAN) as an observer because Dili will certainly need huge funds to restructure its economy. Dili will need more money if it wants to become an ASEAN member as it must open embassies in all the grouping's member countries," he was quoted as saying at Kupang in Indonesian West Timor.

Araujo Lasama also said Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri was expected to attend the May 20 celebrations to show that Jakarta fully accepts independence.

Senior ministers have said Megawati plans to attend the ceremony but there has been fierce opposition from nationalist politicians.

East Timorese, in a UN-initiated ballot in August 1999, voted overwhelmingly for independence.

Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 but pulled its last troops out in October 1999 after a campaign of violence, arson, looting and forced deportation.

An estimated 250,000-270,000 people fled voluntarily or were forced across the border into West Timor. The UN says 205,000 have now returned home.

Araujo Lasama was visiting West Timor to persuade the remainder to come back.