New council chief for E. Timor

DILI, East Timor: Armindo Soares Mariano, former chief of Golkar's East Timor chapter, was inaugurated on Monday as the new chief of the East Timor provincial legislative council.

He took an oath before E.L. Soewarso, the head of the East Timor High Court, in the presence of many local dignitaries including Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, East Timor Military Chief Col. Slamat Sidabutar and East Timor Police Chief Col. Atok Rismanto.

In a speech welcoming Armindo, Governor Abilio said that many problems needing quick solutions awaited the new council chairman. He cited poverty, poor work skills and a lack of job opportunities as some of the major issues facing East Timor.

He also called for close cooperation between the provincial administration and the council and for differences to be resolved through deliberation and consensus. (33/09)