Indonesia and East Timor end talks, signing two agreements

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

Indonesia and East Timor ended bilateral talks on Monday, signing two agreements on direct postal service links and technical arrangements to facilitate the movement of people and goods between the enclave of Oecussi and other parts of East Timor.

In the meeting, the East Timorese delegation also conveyed the invitation for President Megawati Soekarnoputri to attend independence celebrations in East Timor on May 20 in a bid to help head the wounds of the tiny territory's violent transition to statehood.

Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said that he had suggested the President accept the invitation and hoped she would attend the independence celebrations.

A joint statement signed by the heads of the two delegations -- Hassan and United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) Chief Sergio Vieira De Mello -- acknowledged the need to maintain existing positive cooperation, especially ahead of the declaration of Independence of East Timor in May.

"These agreements marked the forward-looking and reconciliatory relationship between Indonesia and East Timor ... it is a clear sign to enhance people-to-people contacts that will benefit the common people of East Timor and Indonesia," Hassan said in the joint press conference.

De Mello said that the two sides were very pleased with the progress and finalization of the two agreements that had been discussed over the past two years, after the East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

"We have made considerable progress in the arrangement of the movement of the people across the border of East Timor and West Timor, including the talks on traditional markets. We have also signed an agreement which will greatly benefit the people of Oecussi," de Mello said.

He also said that a survey team to determine the land border between Indonesia and East Timor would start working next month with the two sides expecting to have their first land border marked on the coming independence day.

The Monday's bilateral meeting marked the end of a bitter separation process after the East Timorese voted for independence on Aug. 30, 1999. The former province will hold its first general election on April 14.

The meeting also marked the start of bilateral talks between Indonesia and East Timor officials without the presence of UNTAET.

However, lengthy discussion is still needed to settle many other remaining issues on the separation between Indonesia and East Timor as the two delegations have yet to complete talks on more important issues, such as maritime and land borders, asset claims and pension funds of former Indonesian civil servants and security officers along with the repatriation of rupiah.

The two delegations agreed that Indonesia would pay the pension until the end of the transition period in May and asked the international community to provide financial support for the efforts. The pension fund costs around US$22million, so far Indonesia is only able to provide $2million.

In the joint statement, the two delegations spoke of future diplomatic ties, that would ensure both sides honor and fulfill all agreements that had been signed, along with the strengthening of cooperation on judicial matters and reuniting East Timorese children with their parents.

Other issues that will be discussed further include the possibility of cultural contacts, cooperation on archives and the possibility of East Timorese students continuing their studies in Indonesia.

During the meeting the East Timorese delegation also raised the issue of the handling of human rights abuse cases, that currently awaits the start of the ad hoc tribunal in Indonesia.

De Mello expressed hope that the trial would go as planned and as the Indonesian government had promised to the international community. "The most important thing is that justice is served, not where it is served," he said.