East Timor welcomes new RI ambassador

East Timor welcomes new RI ambassador

EAST TIMOR: East Timor welcomed Indonesia's first ambassador to
the tiny nation on Friday, saying his arrival shows the
relationship with its former occupier is maturing just five years
after bloody independence battles.

President Xanana Gusmao accepted the credentials of Ahmed
Sofwan, who was until recently deputy chief of the National
Intelligence Agency (BIN). Previously, Jakarta was represented in
Dili by a consular official.

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and ruled it for 24 years
before the Timorese voted in 1999 to break away in a UN ballot
that was marked by bloody attacks by Indonesian troops and their
militia auxiliaries.

The world body then administered the country until it was
granted full independence in 2002. Political ties between
Indonesia and East Timor have improved markedly since then.

Indonesia is now Dili's largest trading partner, and the two
governments are preparing an agreement on issues left unresolved
from the Indonesian occupation. Although the thorny issue of
border demarcation has largely been resolved, issues involving
asset division and civil servants' retirement funds are still
outstanding. -- AP