Indonesia names envoy to Lisbon

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri swore in on Wednesday Indonesia's first ambassador to Portugal since 1975, when Lisbon broke off diplomatic relations following Jakarta's invasion of its former territory of East Timor.

Harry Pryohutomo, a career diplomat, was sworn in as the Indonesian envoy to Lisbon at a ceremony at State Palace.

Also sworn in on Wednesday was M. Hannief Djohan, the Indonesian envoy to Tanzania, Zambia, Comoro Islands, Rwanda, Mauritius and Burundi.

Indonesia and Portugal respectively opened interest sections within embassies of friendly countries last year after Jakarta agreed to allow a UN-organized ballot on self-determination in East Timor.

The Portuguese interest section in Jakarta was accommodated at the Dutch Embassy here, while the Indonesian interest section was attached with the Thailand Embassy in Lisbon.

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and adopted the territory as its 27th province the following year without the recognition of the United Nations and most countries, including Portugal.

Indonesia relinquished sovereignty over East Timor to the United Nations in October last year after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) approved the East Timorese overwhelming vote for independence from Jakarta in the August ballot, also last year.

Also in attendance at the ceremony on Wednesday was Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Tosari Wijaya and Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak. (byg)