Indonesia's national interest

East Timor has a new president, Xanana Gusmao.

How should Indonesia assess the election of Xanana as the first president of East Timor?

We should forget the past, that East Timor was once Indonesia's 27th province. During the 23 years of East Timor's integration with Indonesia, we made huge sacrifices for the people of the territory, which shares a border with East Nusa Tenggara province.

The question for the future is how to develop the two countries' relations. Many problems must be settled by both countries, from the displaced East Timorese in Indonesian territory and the hundreds of East Timorese students in Indonesia, to the accusations of serious human rights abuses lodged against Indonesia.

-- Republika, Jakarta