Resumption of RI-Lisbon ties seen

DILI, East Timor (JP): Visiting Portuguese nobility Dom Duarte Pio expressed optimism yesterday his country will in time recognize East Timor as part of Indonesia and diplomatic ties between the countries will one day be established.

Speaking to reporters at the Komoro Airport on his way to Yogyakarta, Dom Duarte said he was sure the people of East Timor have a bright future under Indonesia. He cited the various improvements that have been reached in the territory, including those in education.

Duarte was here at the invitation of Dili Bishop and Nobel peace laureate Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo.

Duarte, who was accompanied yesterday by Belo and Dili military chief Col. Salamat Sidabutar, promised to tell his people in Portuguese about the progress in East Timor.

"I hope the government of Portugal and our people will understand and want to see the reality here. And when they do, a new leaf will be opened for negotiations between Indonesia and Portugal," he said during his four-day visit here.

Duarte said negotiations conducted by both countries so far, such as the All-inclusive East Timorese Dialog (AEDT), have all been heading toward the establishment of diplomatic ties.

He urged more Portuguese and East Timorese in Portugal to visit the province to get a better picture of the developing region.

Duarte said press reports in his country had failed to report the good things about East Timor, exploiting the "bad things" that did not depict the reality.

"They (the press) report on East Timor as if only bad things happen. Their reports are contrary to what I witnessed during my visit," Duarte said. (33/aan)