EU satisfied with President Abdurrahman over East Timor

EU satisfied with President Abdurrahman over East Timor

LISBON (Reuters): European Union president Portugal said on
Thursday it was satisfied that Indonesia's new president wanted
to help secure a lasting peace in East Timor.

Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said the bloc was
in a permanent dialog with Indonesia, aimed at clearing obstacles
to independence in the former Portuguese colony.

"We have no doubts over President (Abdurrahman) Wahid's
commitment to guarantee peace and stability," Guterres told a
news conference on the fringes of an EU summit.

He was speaking after meeting Timorese resistance leader Jose
Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao.

Gusmao thanked the international community for backing Timor
in its efforts to become fully independent.

"The international community's support will be the foundation
for East Timor to be a democratic state where human rights and
justice may be respected," he said.

Gusmao said he did not oppose a recent statement by
Abdurrahman that he would pardon former armed forces chief Gen.
Wiranto should he be found guilty of backing pro-independence
militias.

"Bringing the (Indonesian) generals to trial is already an act
of goodwill," he said.