East Timorese figures to meet

East Timorese figures to meet

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: A number of East Timorese figures
now living in Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, are
scheduled to meet with several East Timor leaders in Kupang
regency on Saturday.

One of the figures, Alberto Madeira da Silva, said former East
Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares had arranged the meeting
to celebrate Christmas and also as a means of reconciliation.

According to reports, figures from 13 former East Timor
regencies have confirmed their attendance in the meeting. East
Timor's parliamentary chairman, Francisco Guterres, and Prime
Minister Mari Alkatiri have also been invited.

"If the reconciliation meeting brings hope for peace across
East Timor, then East Timorese refugees will return to their
homes in East Timor. Otherwise, the refugees will choose to stay
in East Nusa Tenggara province," Francisco Soares Perreira,
another figure, said. --Antara