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.