Soares surmises that Portugal has accepted integration

Soares surmises that Portugal has accepted integration

DILI, East Timor (JP): Portugal's decision to allow 50 pro-
Indonesian pilgrims from East Timor to visit the Roman Catholic
shrine of Fatima is an indication that they have recognized the
province's integration into Indonesia, says governor Abilio Jose
Osorio Soares.

Abilio told The Jakarta Post last night that the Portuguese
government's permission for the East Timorese to visit the
country's main Roman Catholic shrine next month simply showed
that it had indirectly acknowledged the integration which took
place in 1976.

He believes that such a move would create a new phase in the
talks between the two country on East Timorese issues.

"The East Timorese people do not want to see a prolonged
integration process which could leave a wedge between the two
countries," he said, He added that people of both countries want
to see the end of the situation which has lasted for 18 years.

Although Portugal's Foreign Minister Joao Dorao Barroso has
said that the reasons for the visit are religious, Abilio
believes that it could be regarded as an indication that the
country had indirectly recognized integration.

Abilio said that he was grateful for Portugal's decision to
allow the East Timorese visit the country.

Most East Timorese are Roman Catholic, which makes the
province a great contrast to the majority of Indonesians who are
Moslems.

Portuguese newspapers said that the East Timorese had been
granted visas to visit the shrine. (yac/par)