Govt to pursue good relations with E. Timor
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a clear message to forget the bitter past and look toward the future, the government said on Thursday that Indonesia would keep good relations with the newly born state of East Timor.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said that future relations with East Timor could not be separated from regional relations with the other Pacific countries.
Hassan emphasized, "the existence of East Timor must not affect regional stability."
Therefore, he said, the government would develop harmonious relations with the tiny state despite the bitter association of the past years.
"We may see it (East Timor) as a small entity, but in fact it is a sovereign country that has the right to do various activities," Hassan told a hearing with House Commission I for foreign and defense affairs.
He said that the relations with East Timor should be put in the regional context, therefore Indonesia would strengthen ties with the West and Southwest Pacific countries.
He disclosed that a meeting of senior officials of this region would be held later this month and a ministerial meeting would be held in July.
He acknowledged that past relations both with Australia and East Timor were too emotional, and therefore a better relationship needed to be created.
During the hearing, several legislators cynically questioned the benefit Indonesia could reap from the recent visit of President Megawati Soekarnoputri to Dili, but the minister simply said that the benefit of political activities could not be measured.
Politicians earlier suggested that Megawati skip her Dili trip to attend the declaration ceremony of the country's independence, but most of them changed their stance shortly after the President confirmed her intention to push through with the visit.
Hasan said that during her four-hour visit the President had no opportunity to have bilateral talks with East Timor President Xanana Gusmao.
"If there was conversation, I think it was of personal matters," he added.